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The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has released a new report revealing a catastrophic 73% drop in global wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. The Living Planet Report 2024, based on data from the Zoological Society of London’s Living Planet Index, tracks nearly 35,000 populations across 5,495 species of vertebrates. The findings warn that humanity is nearing critical environmental tipping points, driven by the intertwined threats of biodiversity loss and climate change, which could have irreversible consequences.
The report highlights that freshwater species have suffered the most, with populations falling by a staggering 85%. Terrestrial wildlife populations have declined by 69%, while marine species have decreased by 56%. The primary threats to wildlife stem from habitat destruction and overharvesting, both largely linked to the global food system. Other contributors include invasive species, disease, pollution, and the escalating impacts of climate change.
WWF underscores that these population declines are pushing ecosystems toward dangerous tipping points, such as the destruction of North American pine forests, the Amazon rainforest, and coral reefs. These regional disasters could have far-reaching consequences for human livelihoods, food security, and economies worldwide.
The Living Planet Report provides a sobering look at how much we've lost and the tipping points ahead,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of WWF-US. “Nature forms the foundation for human health, the global economy, and the planet’s stability. This report is a wake-up call, urging us to act swiftly.”
The report details alarming declines among key species, such as a 57% reduction in nesting female hawksbill turtles on Milman Island, a 65% drop in Amazon pink river dolphins, and an 88% decline in California's Chinook salmon population. Extreme weather events in 2023, including intense heat and drought, led to the deaths of over 330 Amazon river dolphins in just two lakes.
Despite the bleak outlook, there are conservation success stories. Mountain gorilla populations in East Africa have been growing by about 3% annually since 2010, and bison populations in Europe have rebounded from 0 to 6,800 over the past 50 years. However, WWF stresses that these isolated successes are insufficient to reverse the overall trend of biodiversity loss.
Rebecca Shaw, WWF’s Chief Scientist, added, “Sharp declines in wildlife populations are a clear and urgent warning that nature is unraveling. When ecosystems collapse, it threatens the very resources we rely on: clean air, water, and food.”
Although global leaders have made ambitious commitments, including the Global Biodiversity Framework and Paris Agreement, WWF warns that current national action plans and implementation efforts are falling short. As the international community prepares for COP16 and COP29, WWF calls on governments and businesses to develop ambitious nature and climate action plans. They must also ramp up investments in sustainable practices and eliminate activities that harm biodiversity and the climate.
WWF’s message is clear: urgent and bold action is required to halt biodiversity loss, mitigate climate change, and protect the ecosystems that are essential to all life on Earth.
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