Editorial Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director, UNEP Critical crossroads Ted Turner calls for an urgent change in attitude towards biodiversity and describes what his foundations are doing to help bring it about Genetically engineered crops: who benefits? Gordon Conway explains why genetically engineered crops have become controversial and describes how, with a change of focus, they could help achieve a new Green Revolution Sustainable solutions Mohammed Valli Moosa puts the case for allowing a limited trade in ivory and elephants Protect elephants Richard E. Leakey argues that allowing any trade in ivory will increase the killing of elephants Getting it together Maritta Koch-Weser talks to Geoffrey Lean about why conservationists have so far failed to get to grips with the extinction crisis, and outlines her plans for change CITES: 2000 and beyond Willem Wijnstekers

At a glance Biological diversity in brief CITES Interpol alert Raymond E. Kendall describes international efforts to beat the illegal wildlife trade Deep waters, high stakes Michael E. Huber says that most of the world’s biological heritage lives in the seas, and calls for its protection Tall trees and bottom lines Thomas Lovejoy describes the essential services provided by forests and the biodiversity they shelter Globalizing solutions Mark Collins suggests a framework of action to move biodiversity up the global agenda Global Biodiversity: Earth’s living resources in the 21st century Walking on the wild side leaves heavy footprints Greg Neale describes the impact tourism has on biodiversity and points to ways in which it can be reduced Voices of the Earth Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity Millennium massacre Valmik Thapar