Photo: David Dennis CC BY-SA 2.0
Mammals are critic
al in maintaining ecosystem functions and services through their diverse roles as grazers, browsers, predators, pollinators and seed dispersers. Mammals also provide numerous direct benefits to humans; they are an important food source for many cultures and are used in recreation and improving livelihoods around the world.25% of the world's 5,488 mammal species are threatened with extinction.
The Red List Index (RLI) provides a clearer view of real trends within different taxonomic groups, and for biodiversity as a whole. It shows that for mammals, the overall trend is one of decline.
