Wildlife populations plummet by 73% since 1970, WWF reports

Wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73 per cent worldwide since 1970, according to a new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Nature is vanishing at an unprecedented rate, reveals WWF’s Living Planet Report 2024, which tracked nearly 35,000 population trends across 5,495 species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals and reptiles between 1970 and 2020.

Latin America and the Caribbean saw the steepest regional decline at 95 per cent, whilst freshwater species experienced the most dramatic losses, falling by up to 85 per cent.

“It is shocking that the world will change permanently if global leaders do not act quickly”, said Ravic Nijbroek, head of the scientific team at WWF Netherlands. He warned that crossing these tipping points would irreversibly disrupt food and energy systems.

The WWF emphasises that whilst there is still time to save our living planet, sweeping changes are required.

Beyond intensifying nature conservation and restoration efforts, the organisation says the root causes of destruction must be addressed through radical reform of food, energy and economic systems.

The conservation body is urging countries to develop and implement ambitious plans for nature and climate protection.