Solutions still in reach as world biodiversity suffers major decline, says WWF report

The report, which was released on Tuesday, tracks more than 10,000 vertebrate-species populations from 1970 to 2010 through the Living Planet Index – a database maintained by the Zoological Society of London. 

The data on our ecological footprint – a measure of humanity’s demands on nature – are provided by the Global Footprint Network. 

“The findings of this year’s report make it clearer than ever that there is no room for complacency. It is essential that we seize the opportunity – while we still can – to develop sustainably and create a future where people can live and prosper in harmony with nature,” said World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) international director-general Marco Lambertini, who also urged bold global action in all sectors of society.

According to the report, populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have declined by 52 per cent since 1970. Freshwater species suffered a 76-per-cent decline, an average loss almost double that of land and marine species. 

The majority of these losses came from tropical regions, with Latin America enduring the biggest drop. 

The report shows that the biggest threat comes from the combined impacts of habitat loss and degradation, while fishing and hunting are also significant threats. 

Climate change is becoming increasingly worrisome, with research cited in the report that this factor is already responsible for the possible extinction of species. 

“The scale of biodiversity loss and damage to the ecosystems is alarming,” said Ken Norris, director of science at the Zoological Society of London. 

“This damage is not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to live. Although the report shows the situation is critical, there is still hope. Protecting nature needs focused conservation action, political will and support from industry,” he said. 

While biodiversity loss is at critical levels, the report highlights how effectively managed protected areas can support wildlife. Nepal is noted for increasing its tiger population in recent years. 

Overall, populations in land-based protected areas suffer less than half the rate of decline of those in unprotected areas. 

According to the report, humanity’s demand on the planet is more than 50 per cent larger than what nature can renew. It would take 1.5 Earths to produce the resources to support our current ecological footprint. 

“Ecological overshoot is the defining challenge of the 21st century,” said Global Footprint Network president Mathis Wackernagel. 

Delinking the relationship between footprint and development is a key global priority indicated in the report. 

While the per-capita ecological footprint of high-income countries is five times that of low-income nations, research demonstrates that it is possible to increase living standards while restraining resource use.  

Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Belgium, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, the United States, Bahrain and Sweden were those with the largest per-capita footprints. 

Constructive negotiations over an international climate deal could be a solution. Completion of a global agreement that clears the way to a low-carbon economy is seen as essential. 

A complementary set of negotiations on a set of development goals creates the opportunity for countries to address how natural systems can be protected as the world’s population surpasses 9.5 billion in coming decades, the report states.  

The report provides WWF’s “One Planet Perspective” with strategies to preserve, produce and consume more wisely. It also includes examples of how communities are making better choices to reduce footprint and biodiversity loss. 

China’s Shanghai is cited for having government incentives support rooftop solar power installations for households and businesses, while promoting urban farming, while almost 1 million people in Seoul left their cars home one day each week to participate in the city’s “No Driving Day” campaign. Japan’s Sendai makes 90 per cent of its purchases from a recommended list of green products and helps set up a green procurement network involving thousands of public, private and voluntary sector organisations, the report said.