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Staggering decline in numbers -

There has been a staggering 73% decline in the wildlife populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish across the globe in the last 50 years, declares the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in its 2024 Living Planet Report.

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Threats to biodiversity -

The WWF has identified six key threats to biodiversity: agriculture, hunting, logging, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. Collectively, these are "threat hotspots" for terrestrial vertebrates.

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Numbers stagnating in freshwater -

Freshwater populations have declined the most, with an average 83% reduction between 1970 and 2018.

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A barrier to sustainability -

Habitat loss and barriers to migration routes such as dams were responsible for about half of the threats to monitored migratory fish species.

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Most threatened species -

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, cyads, a prehistoric group of seed plants, are the most threatened species.

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Corals declining the fastest -

Corals are declining the fastest. About 50% of warm water corals have already been lost. A warming of 1.5°C (34.7°F) will lead to a loss of 70–90% of warm water corals, the report warns.

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First casualty -

The Bramble Cay melomys, a diminutive Australian rodent endemic to the isolated Bramble Cay (pictured) near the Great Barrier Reef, was declared extinct by the IUCN in 2015⁠—the first loss of a mammal species due to global warming and sea-level rise. Image: NASA

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Lost mangroves -

Mangroves continue to be lost to aquaculture, agriculture, and coastal development at an alarming rate of 0.13% per year. In fact, mangrove deficit represents loss of habitat for biodiversity and the loss of ecosystem services for coastal communities.

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Erosion of the Sundarbans -

The Living Planet Report cites the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sundarbans (pictured) as an example of extreme mangrove habitat loss. Around 137 km² (52 mi²) of the Sundarbands mangrove forest in India and Bangladesh has been eroded since 1985.

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Amphibian numbers falling drastically -

The second-fastest declining species group are amphibians. Pictured is the critically endangered lemur leaf frog.

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Threat from agriculture -

Agriculture is the most prevalent threat to amphibians (animals that live both on land and in water). Water pollution from incorrect or overuse of crop pesticides is one example of the threat posed.

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Hunting and trapping -

Hunting and trapping, add the WWF, are most likely to threaten birds and animals.

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WWF regional assessment -

The report identified Latin America and the Caribbean as the regions recording the highest decline in wildlife populations, at a worrying 94%.

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Africa -

Africa recorded a dramatic 66% fall in its wildlife populations over the last 50 years or so.

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Asia-Pacific -

Wildlife populations in the Asia Pacific region fell by 55%. Pictured are endangered spectacled langurs.

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Southeast Asia -

Southeast Asia is the region where species are most likely to face threats at a significant level. Pictured are a pair of near-threatened blue-naped parrots.

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Polar regions and east coast of Australia and South Africa -

The polar regions and the east coast of Australia and South Africa have been identified as showing the highest impact probabilities for climate change, stresses the report, driven in particular by impact on birds.

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Shark numbers sinking fast -

The global abundance of 18 of 31 oceanic sharks has declined by a shocking 71% over the last 50 years. The report stressed that over three-quarters of shark and rays species are now threatened with extinction. Pictured is the critically endangered oceanic whitetip shark swimming close to the surface followed by pilot-fish.

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Rivers slowing up -

Only 37% of rivers longer than 1,000 km (621 mi), like the Rhine (pictured) for example, remain free-flowing over their entire length.

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Land-use change -

The 41% land-use change recorded is the biggest current threat to nature. The report urges urgent action to reverse biodiversity loss by the end of 2023 and keep global warming to a maximum 1.5°C (34.7°F).

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Biodiversity Intactness Index -

The Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) ranges from 100–0%. If the BII is 90% or more, the area has enough biodiversity to be a resilient and functioning ecosystem. Anything under this figure means ecosystems may function less well and less  reliably. If the BII is 30% or less, the area's biodiversity has been depleted and the ecosystem could be at risk of collapse.

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A vulnerable region -

In a case study, the report says India's Himalayan region and the Western Ghats (pictured) represent some of the most vulnerable regions in the country in terms of biodiversity loss, and where increased biodiversity loss is expected in the future if temperatures continue to rise.

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Eat more carefully -

The report challenges us to adopt more sustainable, healthy, and culturally appropriate diets. By doing so, we can reduce agricultural land use by 41% and wildlife loss up to 46%.

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Drawing on Indigenous expertise -

By recognizing the importance of Indigenous leadership in conservation, we (re)open a door to an approach to conservation that respects the inherent interconnections between people and place.

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Save the Amazon! -

The report devoted a page calling for urgent action to protect 80% of the Amazon by 2025 to avert an imminent tipping point and planetary crisis.

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Double trouble -

The WWF stresses that we are facing the double emergencies of human-induced climate change and biodiversity loss. This threatens the well-being of current and future generations.

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Two issues: one major problem -

It adds that unless we stop treating these emergencies as two separate issues, neither problem will be addressed effectively. Indeed, biodiversity loss and the climate crisis need to be dealt with as one instead of two different issues, as they are intertwined.

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The path ahead -

The evidence presented in the 2022 Living Planet Report is clear: the pressure humanity is placing on the natural world is driving an escalating nature crisis. But there is still time to act.

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Nature-positive -

The way forward is to secure a nature-positive world this decade, believes the WWF. Encouragingly, momentum is building. Nearly 100 world leaders have endorsed a Leaders' Pledge for Nature, committing to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. And the G7 have signaled their ambition to adopt an all-inclusive collective approach to protecting the natural world.

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Still time to act -

And, concludes the report, this all-inclusive collective approach can be taken by everyone, adopted nationally and globally to urgently transform our relationship with nature.  

Sources: (Living Planet Report) (IUCN Red List) (The Guardian) (Leaders Pledge for Nature)

See also: These nations are on an extinction trajectory

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