Wildlife populations around the world have plummeted by an average of 73% since 1970, according to the latest Living Planet Index released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on Thursday.
The comprehensive report, featuring data from 35,000 populations of over 5,000 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish, highlights accelerating declines across the globe. In regions rich in biodiversity, such as Latin America and the Caribbean, the decrease in animal populations reaches a staggering 95%.
The index tracks trends in the abundance of species populations rather than individual animal numbers. The findings underscore that human pressures are the primary drivers behind these dramatic declines.
The report’s release comes ahead of the upcoming United Nations summit on biodiversity, set to open in Colombia later this month, where these alarming trends will be a focal point of discussion.
“The picture we are painting is incredibly concerning,” said Kirsten Schuijt, Director General of WWF International. “This is not just about wildlife; it’s about the essential ecosystems that sustain human life.”
Daudi Sumba, Chief Conservation Officer at WWF, emphasized the interconnected crises of climate change and nature destruction, warning of major tipping points approaching certain ecosystems. “The changes could be irreversible, with devastating consequences for humanity,” Sumba stated, referencing the deforestation in the Amazon, which could shift this critical ecosystem from a carbon sink to a carbon source.
The report notes that habitat degradation and loss, driven primarily by our food systems, is the most reported threat in every region, followed by overexploitation, invasive species, and disease. Other significant threats include climate change, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, and pollution, notably in North America, Asia, and the Pacific.
The most significant declines are observed in freshwater species populations, followed by terrestrial and marine vertebrates. “We have emptied the oceans of 40% of their biomass,” said Yann Laurans of WWF France, highlighting the profound impact of human activities on marine life.
These findings call for urgent global action to address biodiversity loss and to protect the ecosystems vital for all life on Earth.
