A new report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has revealed that global wildlife populations have experienced a 73% decline over the past 50 years, primarily due to human activity. The Living Planet Report assessed over 35,000 populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish, identifying overexploitation, invasive species, disease, and habitat loss and degradation as major threats. Freshwater species experienced the steepest decline, followed by terrestrial and marine vertebrates. According to WWF’s chief conservation officer, Daudi Sumba, the decline is a problem for not only wildlife but also for humans. He emphasized that the decline signifies that ecosystems that are essential to human life are at risk. He pointed to deforestation in the Amazon as an example, stating that the activity could shift the ecosystem from a carbon sink to a carbon source. However, WWF International’s director-general stressed that while global efforts offer hope, the 2030 targets for conservation and biodiversity are at risk of being missed.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA