Express Extinctions?

Disturbing news from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/07/endangeredspecies.wildlife) that a 'conservative estimate' predicts that substantial numbers (between 25-33%) of land and marine mammals are 'critically endangered' and will be likely to face extinction in the near future. Their increasingly precarious status is largely blamed on human activities (climate change, hunting, fishing and deforestation) that seem very difficult to stop. Newly discovered species of mammal and Asian primates seem particularly at risk but, in contrast, a minority (some 5%) of threatened species belonging to this Class now have stable or increasing populations (as a result of conservation efforts). The report also notes that these are difficult times for many amphibians, birds and fish. I suspect that the prognosis for a good many species is not good.