“Catastrophic”. This is how he defines the “LIVING Planet” report of the WWF organization the state of wildlife on the planet. On Earth. In a place where, over the last 50 yearsvertebrate fauna declined. As their research tells us, in half a century, they disappeared seven out of ten specimens of free animals.
More precisely, the “catastrophic fall” that they highlight It is 73% vertebrates. In just 50 years. In the time that passes from 1970 to 2020. And this has set off alarm bells within the organization, which demands a “tremendous effort” from the world’s states for the next five years.
“Wildlife, beyond its limits”
“Nature is sending us an SOS. The double climate crisis and loss of biodiversity pushes wildlife and ecosystems beyond their limits,” says Kristen Schuijt, CEO of WWF International.
But it doesn’t stop there: “Dangerous global tipping points threaten by damaging the systems that support life on Earth and destabilize our societies.
Latin America and the Caribbean, most affected areas
The report details what is happening and where the highest extinction rates are. The biggest problem lies in the rivers. 83% of species have disappeared there. They are followed by terrestrials, with 69%. Sea creatures, reduced to half of what was observed in 1970.
There is also a sharp decline in species in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 95%. In Africa it fell by 76%, in Asia and the Pacific by 60%. As for Europe, Central Asia and North Americathe decrease was 35 and 39% respectively.
The “Living Planet” report analyzes the evolution of 35,000 populations of 5,500 different species over these 50 years, and also denounces the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest in addition to the destruction of coral reefs. And also a large-scale merger, which would cause “huge carbon dioxide emissions”.
Climate change, “additional threat”
From what they say, habitat degradation and loss represents the most serious problem. Behind this, overexploitation, invasive species and diseases. And yes, climate change too. “It is an additional threat,” they emphasize, particularly for the Caribbean and Latin America.
In this sense, they warn of the great risk that this decline represents: “When a population falls below a certain level, it may not be able to fulfill its function in the ecosystem. Whether in seed dispersal, pollination, grazing… . and in turn weakens the benefits for people: from food to drinking waterthanks to carbon storage for a stable climate.
Fortunately, the report highlights some good news, such as the return from the European bison to central Europe and the 3% increase in the mountain gorilla population in Virunga.
