Everywhere you turn there is confusion about the current state of our planet; rainforest destruction – with talk of rainforest destruction, global warming, extinction of species, rising sea-levels, drought and meteoric collisions.

To coincide with the new millennium, David Attenborough brings his matter-of-fact clarity to the subject, investigating the latest scientific research to explain the situation in simple terms for the first time. Over the course of three programmes, David works with experts to ask whether nature really is in a crisis of species extinction, to examine why has this come about and finally to understand what options for the future remain open to us.

His quest takes him on a truly global trail, from Kenya to Ecuador, from the Philippines and the Maldives to Easter Island, and from South Africa to California – visiting habitats of threatened species and exploring ways in which life can be sustained for the future.

• Episode One: Is there a crisis? Life has existed on this planet for 3.5 billion years – and never with a greater or more remarkable diversity. Flourishing life in the oceans and rainforests still remains to be discovered and only a fraction of all species have been found. We often hear that nature is in crisis but is this really true? And why has this come about?
• Episode 2 – Why is there a crisis? Extinction is a natural process. Yet species are now becoming extinct at 100 to 1000 times the normal rate. Humans may be directly responsible, but we are only doing what all living things do – multiplying our numbers. We are just extremely good at it, and other species pay the price. We are fast approaching a natural bottleneck. During the next hundred years, we must save as much biodiversity as possible. There is hope, for all bottlenecks end. But just how much life will get through this time?
• Episode 3 – Life’s future With an ever-growing population and higher demands on the environment, the future of nature looks worrying. At this turning point in human history, we can still choose whether to leave behind a healthy planet or an impoverished one. The future of life on earth depends upon our ability to take action. We are fortunate enough to have the knowledge of how to change things – it just requires the will.