Wildlife Populations Have Dropped by Almost 60% in 40 Years, WWF Says
ENVIRONMENT, 31 Oct 2016
TIME Staff – TRANSCEND Media Service
If current trends continue the world could lose more than two-thirds of wildlife by 2020.
27 Oct 2016 – Global wildlife populations have plummeted by 58% between 1970 and 2012, according to the latest Living Planet Report published by conservation group WWF on Wednesday [26 Oct].
The report — an analysis of data on more than 14,200 populations across 3,700 species of mammals, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles — projected that if the trend continued, the world could lose more than two-thirds of wildlife by 2020.
Worst affected are species that live in lakes, rivers and wetlands — these freshwater dwellers have seen an 81% drop in populations over the past four decades, according to WWF.
The rapid rate of decline is attributed to rising human populations, habitat loss and degradation, hunting and climate change.
“Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate,” Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, said in the report.
“We are entering a new era in Earth’s history: the Anthropocene,” he added. “An era in which humans rather than natural forces are the primary drivers of planetary change.”
WWF’s previous Living Planet Report, published in September 2014, found that biodiversity dropped by 52% between 1970 and 2010 — the latest data indicates that wildlife is being lost at an even more alarming rate.
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.