Human activity is driving what the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) describes as a “catastrophic” decline in global wildlife populations. According to the WWF’s Living Planet Report, wildlife populations have decreased by an average of 73% over the past 50 years. The report highlights significant losses, from elephants in tropical forests to hawksbill turtles off the Great Barrier Reef, and warns that many ecosystems are on the brink of collapse due to habitat destruction and other human-induced pressures.
The Living Planet Index, which tracks more than 5,000 populations of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish over five decades, underpins the report. Among the alarming findings, it reveals that 60% of the Amazon’s pink river dolphins have been wiped out by pollution, mining, and other threats. This extensive loss of wildlife and wild spaces is placing many ecosystems at dangerous tipping points, according to WWF UK’s head, Tanya Steele. Iconic regions like the Amazon and coral reefs are nearing thresholds where they may no longer be able to recover.
However, the report does offer glimmers of hope, with isolated conservation successes. For example, a sub-population of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of East Africa increased by 3% annually between 2010 and 2016. But WWF’s chief scientific adviser, Mike Barrett, cautioned that such isolated recoveries are not enough to counteract the widespread destruction of habitats globally.
The leading causes of biodiversity loss include habitat degradation, overexploitation, invasive species, disease, climate change, and pollution. Of particular concern is how human practices, especially the way food is produced and consumed, are increasingly eroding natural habitats. The report warns of irreversible tipping points, including the potential collapse of the Amazon rainforest, which could significantly hinder efforts to combat climate change.
While these findings paint a bleak picture of global biodiversity, experts insist that urgent and collective action could still reverse the damage. Valentina Marconi, from the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology, emphasised that with the right leadership and swift action, there remains hope to restore nature.
As world leaders prepare for the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Colombia, the pressure to address these issues is mounting. Nearly 200 countries have pledged to tackle nature loss, with an ambitious goal of setting aside 30% of the planet for nature by 2030. In the UK, the government has committed to making climate action and the protection of nature central to its policies.
“This report is a wake-up call,” said Tanya Steele. “Healthy ecosystems underpin our health, prosperity, and wellbeing. We don’t think this sits on the shoulders of the average citizen – it’s the responsibility of business and of government. We need to look after our land and our most precious wild places for future generations.”
This urgent call to action comes as the world faces a pivotal moment in its efforts to protect biodiversity and ensure the planet’s sustainability for generations to come.
Melissa Enoch
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