WWF: Wildlife Populations Have Shrunk by Two Thirds

The studied wildlife populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish continue to decline rapidly. The pressure on animal populations from human activities has continued to increase: hunting, deforestation and environmentally harmful agriculture are among the causes. The latest Living Planet Report from WWF lays out the shocking facts and defines urgent measures to reverse the trend by 2030.

• The globally studied populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have declined by an average of two thirds in just under 50 years. This decline is largely attributable to the same causes that contribute to the emergence of zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19: deforestation, unsustainable agriculture and the illegal trade in wildlife. WWF published the findings today in the Living Planet Report 2020.
• According to WWF and more than 40 NGOs and academic institutions, stabilising and reversing the loss of nature will only be achieved through bold and ambitious conservation measures. It also requires a transformation in food production and in our consumption habits.
• The 75th UN General Assembly next week marks a milestone for laying the foundations for an urgently needed “New Deal” for nature and people. Heads of state and government will review progress towards the goals of the climate and biodiversity agreements.

Wildlife Populations Down by Up to 99%

The Living Planet Index, developed by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), shows that the factors which increase the planet's vulnerability to pandemics are also drivers of the average 68% decline in global vertebrate populations between 1970 and 2016. These include land use changes, including deforestation, as well as the use and trade of wildlife.

From the fish in our oceans and rivers to the bees that play a crucial role in our agricultural production: the decline in wildlife populations directly affects the food security and livelihoods of billions of people.

Thomas Vellacott, CEO of WWF Switzerland

Among the threatened species is, for example, the African Grey Parrot in southwestern Ghana, whose populations declined by up to 99% between 1992 and 2014 due to frequent trade and destruction of its habitats. Freshwater wildlife populations have suffered an 84% decline, equivalent to an annual loss of 4% since 1970. Biodiversity in these habitats is being massively reduced by excessive water extraction and pollution, the development of river courses, invasive alien species, and river dredging.

Action and Courage

Using groundbreaking modelling, the Living Planet Report illustrates that without further efforts to combat habitat loss and degradation, global biodiversity will continue to decline. The published article in Nature («Bending the curve of terrestrial biodiversity needs an integrated strategy«, by WWF and co-authored by more than 40 NGOs and academic institutions) shows that stabilising and reversing nature loss can only be achieved through bold and ambitious conservation efforts and that transformations in food production and our consumption are needed..

Coordinated global action against biodiversity loss around the world is needed, and it must take effect by the end of this decade in order to protect our health and livelihoods. Our own survival depends on functioning ecosystems.

Thomas Vellacott, CEO of WWF Switzerland

The necessary changes include more efficient and ecologically more sustainable food production, the reduction of food waste, and the promotion of a healthier and more environmentally friendly diet. Continuing as before is not an option. We humans depend on healthy ecosystems for our survival. The scenario of sustainable consumption involves wasting less
agricultural products and shifting diets toward a lower proportion of animal-based calories in countries with high meat consumption.

Next week, the 75th United Nations General Assembly will take place, at which heads of state and government are to review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The UN General Assembly thus marks a milestone for laying the groundwork for an urgently needed "New Deal" for nature and people. It has never been more necessary than today.