A catastrophic 73% collapse in mammal, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish populations has been recorded in just over half a century, according to the latest edition of WWF's Living Planet report, published today. Most alarming is the decline in biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean, where observed wildlife populations have declined by as much as 95%. The report warns that we are approaching dangerous tipping points that "put our system at risk." To avoid them and to deal with the climate crisis and the loss of wildlife will require a huge collective effort from all of us, the authors of the study also point out.
The Living Planet Index
Through the Living Planet Index (LPI), scientists from WWF and the Zoological Society of London monitor the status of almost 35 populations of 000 species. Studies show that biodiversity is disappearing at different rates in different parts of the biosphere, with the most striking decline in freshwater ecosystems (5%), followed by terrestrial (495%) and marine (85%). Habitat loss and degradation, caused primarily by the way we produce our food, is the most frequently reported threat to wildlife populations around the world. They are followed by the overexploitation of natural resources, the spread of invasive species in atypical areas and diseases. Climate change is a significant threat that covers ever larger parts of the globe.
"Precipitous declines in wildlife populations can act as an indicator of an increasing risk of extinction of viable ecosystems. When ecosystems are damaged, they cease to provide humanity with the benefits we depend on and have come to take for granted today, such as clean air, water and fertile soils for food. If an ecosystem is pushed beyond a critical threshold, it would lead to a significant and potentially irreversible change," warns Nada Tosheva, head of the "Species Conservation" program at WWF Bulgaria.
Global tipping points, such as the disappearance of the Amazon rainforest and the mass die-off of coral reefs, would create shock waves far beyond their respective habitats and affect the food security and livelihoods of millions of people. The warning comes after fires in the Amazon jungle reached their highest peak in fourteen years this summer, and the fourth mass coral bleaching event was recently confirmed.
"Nature is calling for help. Climate change and nature loss are interconnected crises. They push ecosystems beyond their limits, threatening to damage Earth's life-support systems and destabilize societies. The disappearance of the Amazon rainforest and the death of corals will be felt by people around the world," says Kirsten Schutt, Director General of WWF International.
The report highlights some startling data
The plight of hawksbill sea turtles nesting on Millman Island in the Great Barrier Reef is extremely dire, having declined by 57% in less than 30 years. The decline in the populations of the Amazon river dolphin (65%) and the lesser bottlenose dolphin (75%) in the Mamiraua reserve in Brazil also continues. Last year, more than 330 river dolphins died in just two lakes during periods of extreme heat and drought.
Fortunately, there is good news. There is evidence of populations that have stabilized as a result of effective conservation efforts. Among them is one observed population of mountain gorillas in Mount Virunga in East Africa, which is growing at a rate of 3% per year. The return of bison to Central Europe is also a great success. However, this is not enough.
"Despite the desperate situation, we have not yet passed the point of no return. We have a number of large-scale agreements, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, on which to start the recovery of nature by 2030. The decisions taken and the actions taken in the next five years will be crucial for the future of life on Earth," adds Schuit.
What are we doing in Bulgaria?
WWF Bulgaria wants to draw attention to endangered animals. So he completely renewed his interactive quiz, adding new endangered species about whose future the report warns. The quiz encourages nature lovers to distinguish pictures of real animals from AI-generated ones.
"In this way, we want to show people the real animals and the need for urgent measures to protect them. We hope to attract interest to the living planet because there are still wild animals in the forests, oceans, deserts and ice fields. Very soon, however, some of them may disappear forever. Whether it will happen depends on us", says Kalina Boyadzhieva from WWF Bulgaria.