Five Endangered Species from Maine You Should Know About May 21, 2021 Each species has an important ecological role to play in the web of life. Diverse ecosystems are more resilient to change, and collectively, the planet’s array of plants and animals provide valuable services, helping clean our air and water, cycle nutrients, prevent erosion, provide food and fiber, offer recreational opportunities and places of solace, and can be studied to create medicines or lead to discoveries that improve lives. Yet globally, one million species are at risk of extinction due to climate change, pollution, habitat loss, invasive species, and exploitation.