GLOBAL
WILDLIFE POPULATION PLUMMET : ENVIRONMENT
NEWS
:
Global
Wildlife Populations Plummet by 73% in 50 Years Due to Habitat Loss, Climate
Change, and Invasive Species: WWF Report
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
According to the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) biennial
Living Planet Report, global wildlife populations have declined by 73% over the
past 50 years.This alarming drop is attributed to habitat loss, degradation,
climate change, and invasive species.The report stresses that the decline does
not reflect the loss of species themselves but the average changes in monitored
populations across 35,000 population trends and 5,495 species, including
amphibians, mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles.
Ecosystem-Specific
Declines:
Freshwater
Ecosystems:
Experienced the highest decline, with an 85% reduction in populations.
Terrestrial
and Marine Declines:
Terrestrial populations fell by 69%, while marine populations dropped by 56%.
Major
Drivers:
Habitat loss (due to unsustainable agriculture, deforestation, mining),
overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and diseases.
Ecosystem
Function Impact:
Declining populations hinder vital roles like seed dispersal, pollination, and
nutrient cycling, risking ecosystem collapse.
India’s
Vulture Crisis:
Sharp decline in three species—white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and
slender-billed vulture—threatens biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
World
Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF):
·
Established
in 1961, headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
·
Works
in over 100 countries to conserve nature and address biodiversity threats.
·
Focuses
on innovative, collaborative conservation efforts.