Prince Charles said mankind is endangered and humanity must safeguard the natural world for future generations as he became president of the World Wildlife Fund’s British arm yesterday.

Prince Charles: Mankind will be extinct unless we ‘wake up’ to climate change
Prince Charles: Mankind is endangered (Picture: Getty)

Pointing to climate change, deforestation and dwindling fish stocks, Prince Charles said he was taking up the post at a âcrucial momentâ.

In a speech at St Jamesâs Palace, the Prince of Wales told WWF-UK staff and campaigners: ‘We are, of course, witnessing what some people call the sixth great extinction event â the continued erosion of much of the Earthâs vital biodiversity caused by a whole host of pressures, from the rising demand for land to the corrosive effects of all kinds of pollution.

‘This is an important point that needs to be stressed more than it is, because its ultimate impact is plainly not at all clear to most people â without the biodiversity that is so threatened, we won’t be able to survive ourselves.

âHistory will not judge us by how much economic growth we achieve in the immediate years ahead, nor by how much we expand material consumption but by the legacy we leave for our children.â

Prince Charles mankind WWF
New WWF president Prince Charles with out-going president Princess Alexandra (Picture: Getty)

He also alluded to the âspiritual connection to the natural worldâ, adding: âIt may not make much difference economically if the swallows, swifts and house martins no longer turn up each spring but what would life be like if we just accepted their extinction?â