Book excerpt: Every life form that inhabits the planet is valuable - be it an ant, a bird, an elephant or a tiger, even microbes and bacteria matter. The importance of biologically different life forms is highlighted for the first time at the world environment conference held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Now, the preservation of biodiversity is considered not only essential for our survival but also for ecological and environmental harmony. Now, we hear the word 'reverence for life' too often at different forums. This concept was earlier confined to the Jain community alone.