Prepare: Read Chapters 9 and 10 in Environmental Policies and all required resources as listed in the Student Course Guide.

Reflect: The diversity of life on Earth is impressive and critical for maintaining ecosystem services and our survival. This diversity extends to millions of species, to thousands of unique ecosystems, and even to the microscopic level of genes and inheritable genetic material. Unfortunately, global biodiversity at all levels is threatened by a variety of challenges, which all lead to species extinction. Each of these threats demand organized and effective policy responses at the local, regional, state, or international level. The policy responses also should involve a variety of stakeholders that have vested interests in preserving and conserving biodiversity around our planet. Biodiversity has enormous direct and indirect value and must be protected if life on Earth is to be sustained.

Write: In your initial post of at least 250 words, using the required resources and any additional credible resources that would enhance the strength of your argument, complete the following:

• Identify two major threats to global biodiversity and explain how and why these two threats negatively impact biodiversity.
• Describe how each of these threats can be eliminated or mitigated by the policy efforts of either a nonprofit organization, a national government, or an international organization.