Climate change and global warming continue to impact wildlife and aquatic life year after year. One of the most alarming recent indicators of this environmental crisis is the staggering 73% decline in the average population of wild and aquatic vertebrates over just the past 50 years, according to the latest report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The report emphasizes that the next five years will be critical for the future of life on Earth. It stresses that there are viable solutions to transform systems related to conservation, food, energy, and finance—solutions necessary to address the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
A Global Tipping Point
The Living Planet Report, published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), warns that Earth is rapidly approaching a global tipping point due to the accelerating degradation of nature and the worsening impacts of climate change.
Among these critical tipping points are the potential dieback of the Amazon rainforest and the mass extinction of coral reefs—transformations that could trigger shockwaves far beyond the regions directly affected, posing a serious threat to food security and livelihoods across the globe.
Wildlife Populations in Steep Decline Since 1970
The report reveals a dramatic decline in actual animal populations. It tracked changes in the sizes of wild and aquatic vertebrate populations—including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish—using data from 34,836 animal populations covering 5,495 species worldwide.
Between 1970 and 2020, average population sizes of wild and aquatic vertebrates dropped by 73%. In other words, if there were 100 birds or gazelles in 1970, by 2020, their average numbers had fallen to just 27.
It is important to note that this figure does not mean 73% of species have gone extinct. Rather, it reflects a 73% average decline in the population sizes of the monitored species. The report also acknowledges a margin of statistical uncertainty, meaning the actual figure could be slightly higher or lower, but still within a narrow range of variation.
Freshwater Ecosystems Hit Hardest
The Living Planet Report highlights that freshwater ecosystems have experienced the most severe population declines, with an average decrease of 85%, followed by terrestrial ecosystems (69%) and marine ecosystems (56%).
The most widespread threat to wildlife populations is habitat loss and degradation, driven primarily by unsustainable food systems. This is followed by overexploitation and the spread of diseases.
Most Affected Region
Climate change poses an especially severe threat to wildlife populations in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the report recorded a staggering average decline of 95%.
This sharp drop in wildlife populations serves as an early warning signal, pointing to the growing risk of extinction and the potential collapse of healthy ecosystems. When ecosystems are damaged, they stop providing the essential services we rely on—such as clean air, fresh water, and fertile soil.
Nature Is Sending a Distress Signal
Dr. Kirsten Schuijt, Director General of WWF International, emphasized that nature is sending a distress signal. The crises of nature loss and climate change are pushing wildlife and ecosystems beyond their limits, with looming global tipping points that threaten to unravel the life-support systems of our planet and destabilize communities.
She added that the catastrophic consequences of losing some of our most vital ecosystems—such as the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs—will be felt by both people and nature around the world.
