A new report published by the World Wildlife Fund has revealed a staggering decline in global wildlife populations, with a catastrophic 73 percent drop over the past 50 years. Alarmingly, humans are largely responsible for this drastic change.
The research, outlined in the 2024 Living Planet Report, assessed 5,495 species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles from 1970 to 2020 using the Living Planet Index (LPI). It found that freshwater populations suffered the most, declining by an alarming 85 percent. Terrestrial populations decreased by 69 percent, while marine life saw a decline of 56 percent.
Regionally, Latin America and the Caribbean experienced the gravest impact, with a shocking 95 percent drop in wildlife populations. Africa followed with a 76 percent decrease, while Asia and the Pacific registered a 60 percent decline. In contrast, Europe and North America faced declines of 35 percent and 39 percent, respectively. The relatively lower impact in these regions can be attributed to prior awareness of human impacts on nature, which led to conservation efforts and some population recovery.
The primary threat to wildlife populations across the globe has been habitat degradation and loss, driven mainly by food production systems. Other significant factors include overexploitation, invasive species, and disease. Climate change poses an additional threat, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, while pollution is a pressing issue in North America, Asia, and the Pacific.
The report emphasizes that nature is disappearing at an alarming rate, warning that cumulative impacts can reach a tipping point, resulting in drastic and potentially irreversible changes to the environment. Such tipping points threaten not only wildlife but also vital ecosystems that support human life.
The next five years are deemed crucial for steering the planet toward a sustainable future, as failure to do so may lead to catastrophic consequences for both humanity and various species. The risk is real, and the stakes are incredibly high.
Source: Men’s Journal
