Rapid fall in wildlife diversity blamed on factors such as logging and industrial pollution
(Picture: Rewilding Britain/PA Media)The number of animals on Earth has plunged by an average of 69 per cent in just under 50 years as a result of humans’ continued logging of forests, unsustainable consumption, and industrial-scale pollution, according to a leading scientific assessment.
The WWF and Zoological Society of London's (ZSL) biennial Living Planet Report shows that the diversity of birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles is in rapid decline, having decreased on average by more than two-thirds between 1970 and 2018.
The rate of animal population decline is as high as 94 per cent in areas with considerable biodiversity, such Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mark Wright, director of science at WWF, said the figures were “frightening”, particularly for Latin America.
“Latin America is renowned for his biodiversity of course, it’s really important for lots of other things as well,” he said.
Africa had the second largest fall at 66 per cent, followed by Asia and the Pacific with 55 per cent and North America at 20 per cent. Europe and central Asia experienced the lowest fall by only 18 per cent. The total loss is akin to the human population of Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania and China disappearing, according to the report.
The report, according to WWF's Alice Ruhweza, director of the Africa region, demonstrated the "great human cost" associated with the destruction of wildlife.
“We have a young, entrepreneurial and increasingly educated population that is showing more awareness around issues of nature,” said Ruhweza.
“So the potential for transformative change is really significant. But the time is running short, and we need to act now.”
The authors of the research advocated for an international, legally enforceable agreement to safeguard wildlife, similar to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, as world leaders prepare to meet in Montreal for the COP15 biodiversity meeting in December.
The report argues further biodiversity loss and climate change can be alleviated by increasing conservation and restoration efforts, producing and consuming food more sustainably, and rapidly and deeply decarbonising all sectors.
