99% of species are extinct

[luckyme]

This is just a general probe. Granting it's truth ( and it's likely within reasonable range), what role could it play in various arguments, such as the necessity of protecting habitat, or biodiversity.
Or does it indicate ... X?

At first it seems to point to the incredible diversity achievable, but since species loses some of it's meaning when used over time spans, perhaps not quite as diverse as it seems. What say?

I don't know what scientific opinion is on the number of extant species on the planet at any one time. Has it changed much?

luckyme