Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?

Does it matter if some animal and plant species die out?

Stance: Yes, it does matter. Context: Global (biodiversity, ethics, law, climate). Word budget: ~750 words.

Definitions

• Die out: complete extinction of a species, not just local decline.
• Matter: not trivial — implies ecological, ethical, legal, and human consequences that justify moral and political attention.
• Species: distinct biological classifications, whose loss represents both ecological and cultural impoverishment.

Assumptions Under Challenge

1. That species extinction is a neutral or acceptable part of "natural selection" rather than a crisis caused by human activity.
2. That only human-centric impacts matter (i.e. unless extinction harms humans directly, it does not "matter").