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Posted: 1st October 2014

Global wildlife populations halved in 40 years
elephants in jungle
The report highlights that habitat loss and degradation, driven by human consumption, is the biggest threat facing the world's biodiversity.
Species loss is much worse than previously thought

Global wildlife populations are roughly half the size they were 40 years ago, the 2014 Living Planet Report has revealed.

The continuing decline highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to the increasing demand on natural resources.

Populations of birds, reptiles, mammals, amphibians and fish declined by an average of 52 per cent between 1970 and 2010 - a much bigger decrease than has been previously reported. This is due to the weighted adjustments made to the methodology, which aims to be more representative of global biodiversity.

Freshwater species have suffered an even bigger decline - falling by an average of 76 per cent - which is almost double that of marine (39 per cent) and land (39 per cent) populations.

The report highlights that habitat loss and degradation, driven by human consumption, is the biggest threat facing the world's biodiversity. Hunting and the impacts of climate change are also of increasing concern.

In the report's foreword, WWF's international director general Marco Lambertini comments: "A range of indicators reflecting humanity’s heavy demand upon the planet shows that we are using nature’s gifts as if we had more than just one Earth at our disposal. By taking more from our ecosystems and natural processes than can be replenished, we are jeopardising our future.

"Nature conservation and sustainable development go hand-in-hand. They are not only about preserving biodiversity and wild places, but just as much about safeguarding the future of humanity – our well-being, economy, food security and social stability – indeed, our very survival."

The 2014 Living Planet Report is the tenth edition of WWF's flagship publication, which uses the Living Planet Index (LPI) to track changes in wildlife populations. Produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network, the biennial report uses the global LPI as a measure of over 10,000 populations of more than 3,000 species.

To download the full report visit: wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/ 

 




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