By Macroeconomics Program Office, 2000, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) The purpose of this guide is to provide a step-by-step, practical methodology for conducting in-depth studies of the root causes of biodiversity loss. The analytic approach developed by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) offers a way to balance both quantitative and qualitative data to gain a complete picture of what is driving biodiversity loss at various sites. It is intended to be used to complement rigorous and quantitative ecological or biological studies whenever possible. The approach is primarily designed for use and adaptation by field staff, scientists and other conservation practitioners in the field who are interested in conducting root causes studies of their own.