[00:09] In the modern world it is hard to imagine the many processes that have shaped our planet over time.

[00:16] A half-billion years ago, a burst of evolutionary innovation known as the Cambrian explosion produced a wealth of new creatures.

[00:24] Since then, Earth has experienced at least five mass extinctions, where two-thirds or more of existing species disappeared forever.

[00:33] The causes varied, from global temperature and sea level changes, to volcanic activity, and meteor impacts.

[00:40] Today, many scientists believe Earth is undergoing the sixth major Extinction since life began, only this one is human driven.

[00:49] Human domination of Earth's ecosystems is markedly reducing the amount of animal and plant habitat worldwide.

[00:56] Because of habitat loss, at least three to five species of plants and animals go extinct every hour of every day. At this rate, over half of the world's living species will become extinct in the next century.

[01:09] All forms of life on Earth contribute to the environment that makes the planet habitable for humans and the species with which we have co-evolved.

[01:18] As global biodiversity drops, we diminish the viability of the life-support system on which all organisms depend.