Global Wildlife Populations Plunge by 73 Percent Since 1970, WWF Warns

LONDON: The global populations of monitored wild species have suffered a catastrophic decline of 73 percent on average between 1970 and 2022, according to a landmark report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The Living Planet Report 2024 warns that the rapid destruction of ecosystems is pushing the planet toward dangerous and irreversible tipping points, threatening both biodiversity and human survival.

The comprehensive study, which monitored nearly 6,000 vertebrate species across more than 35,000 populations, highlights the devastating impact of human activity on global wildlife. Habitat loss, driven primarily by agriculture and deforestation, remains the leading threat, followed closely by overexploitation, invasive species, disease, and climate change. The steepest declines were recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean, which saw a staggering 95 percent average drop in wildlife populations, followed by Africa at 76 percent.

Environmental experts warn that these dramatic losses are not just an ecological crisis but a direct threat to global stability. The degradation of natural habitats compromises essential ecosystem services, including clean water, fertile soil, and carbon sequestration. This systemic collapse poses severe risks to global food security, public health, and economic systems, particularly in developing nations that rely heavily on natural resources.

The alarming findings come ahead of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Colombia, where world leaders will face intense pressure to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Conservationists are calling for immediate, large-scale action to transform food systems, scale up renewable energy, and phase out subsidies that harm nature, warning that the next five years will be crucial for the planet’s future.