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WWF’s Living Planet Report analysed almost 32,000 populations of 5,230 species. This year’s report is the most comprehensive in its history, adding 838 new species and just over 11,000 new populations since the previous report in 2020. It is based on data from the Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) Living Planet Index.
The report points to the consumption habits of wealthy countries and our reliance on fossil fuels as the propelling force driving this loss.
The WWF are especially worried about animals in tropical regions such as the Caribbean and Latin America –the home of the Amazon and one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
Here, average wildlife population sizes have plummeted by 94 percent since 1970.
The Amazon pink river dolphin is just one species suffering a catastrophic loss. Between 1994 and 2016 its population in the Mamirau Sustainable Development Reserve in the Brazilian state of Amazonas fell by 65 percent.
Auricelia Arapiun, leader of the Tapajos Arapiuns Indigenous Council in the Para state of the Brazilian Amazon, said: “The decline in animals across our land is stark.”
“We used to see armadillos every day, now we see none. Jaguars used to be hard to spot, but because their hunting grounds and the trees that were their habitats have been destroyed, they come to our villages and kill our dogs. We have to keep a careful eye on our children.”
“I have chosen to sacrifice my life and my location to make sure that my children have a sacred place they can call home when they grow up. I’m fighting for their future.”
In South and Western Australia, the number of Australian sea lion pups has reduced by 64 percent.
On average, monitored populations of oceanic sharks and rays have fallen by 71 percent in the past 50 years.
According to the Biodiversity Intactness Index, the UK has only 50 percent of its biodiversity richness compared with historic levels, placing the country as one of the most nature-depleted places in the world.
Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF, said: “Despite the science, the catastrophic projections, the impassioned speeches and promises, the burning forests, submerged countries, record temperatures and displaced millions, world leaders continue to sit back and watch our world burn in front of our eyes.”
“The climate and nature crises are not some faraway threat our grandchildren will solve with still-to-be-discovered technology.”
“Nature is on its knees and our leaders are risking catastrophic consequences for people, planet and our economy by failing to act. The world doesn’t have time to wait.”
Every year the world loses 10 million hectares of forests, around the size of Portugal.
The WWF urges an increase in conservation and restoration measures across the globe to prevent figures like this rising.
They are calling upon governments across the world to commit five key promises to bring our world back to life.
They must deliver the net zero emissions target to avoid catastrophic climate change; protect and restore nature; stop funding food production that destroys climate and nature; protect environmental standards from bad deals; protect forests and keep deforestation out of supply chains.
Dr Robin Freeman, of ZSL, said: “We are being sent a serious message: we are eroding the very foundations of life and urgent action is needed.”
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