World Wide Fund (WWF) report on global wildlife populations

Source: The post on World Wide Fund (WWF) report on global wildlife populations is based on the article  ” Wildlife numbers declined 73% since 1970, says WWF” published in “The Hindu” on 10th October 2024.

Why in the News?

The latest report by the Worldwide Fund (WWF) for Nature highlights a severe decline in global wildlife populations.

Findings of the report

1. From 1970 to 2020, the average size of monitored wildlife populations has decreased by 73%. In the 2022 report, the recorded decline was 69%, indicating an ongoing trend of population loss.

2.  The report emphasizes that addressing the dual crises of climate change and nature loss requires urgent, coordinated action over the next five years. Data compiled by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) included 35,000 population trends across 5,495 species, covering the years 1970 to 2020.

3.Ecosystems at Risk: The report showed that freshwater Ecosystems has witnessed the sharpest decline at 85%, with freshwater habitats experiencing significant losses. It also showed a 69% decline, reflecting extensive impacts on land-based wildlife. It declined by 56%, highlighting issues within ocean and coastal habitats.

4. Key Drivers of Decline: Habitat Loss and Degradation are predominantly caused by agriculture and food consumption practices worldwide. Other Threats include over-exploitation, invasive species, and diseases are also contributing to the rapid decline of wildlife populations.

5. Implications for Global Ecosystems: The declining wildlife populations serve as a critical indicator of escalating extinction risks and potential ecosystem degradation.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment