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Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur has underlined the need for collaborative efforts to protect and preserve the environment for future generations. He said the negative effects of environmental degradation could not be over-emphasised and expressed regret that life would soon be exhausted if the present rate of environmental degradation was not curtailed. �We have the environment, which is the basis for human life. The continued depletion and degradation of the environment will exhaust the environment, and the basis for human existence will finally be exhausted,� the Vice President said in Accra on Friday. Vice President Amissah-Arthur was speaking as the Guest of Honour at the launch of a 200-page book titled; �Mind Your Environment, It is your Life Support�. It was written by Mrs Sophia Awortwi, a Biological Scientist, and her husband, Harry, a Physicist and Minister of the Methodist Church. The book, which the authors said took 19 years to write and publish, has 18 chapters, taking pertinent themes and discussing relevant issues about the environment from its nature, environmental pollution, conservation, to the important role of women in creating a sustainable environment. Among topics treated are; The Earth, The Environment , The Creation and Stewardship of the Environment, Pollution and Environmental Changes, Noise Pollution, Climate Change and Global Warming. Others are Management of Waste, Community Health and Sanitation, Sanitation Related Diseases, Conservation of Forest Resources and Protection of Water Resources and Water Conservation, and Greening the Environment. Vice President Amissah-Arthur said it was the duty of humans to take care of the earth and hold it in trust for future generations. Alluding to the Parable of the Talents in the Bible, the Vice President reminded Ghanaians that caring for the environment is a divine assignment for which God would hold people accountable. He reiterated the urgent need to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity from destruction. Prof Jerome Djagma, a Scientist and former Director General of the Ghana Education Service, in a review, said a lot of flora and fauna, as well as water bodies were disappearing due to improper care. He advocated a return to traditional values that preserved the environment. Prof Agyeman Badu Akosa, a former Director General of the Ghana Health Service, called for strict enforcement of the law on houses to have places of convenience. He said every Ghanaian must be an environmental advocate and hold whoever violated the environment in check. The Most Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Kwaku Asante chaired the launching, which was attended by renowned Ghanaian scientists, academics, lawyers, economists, teachers and students among other personalities.