Context: The World-Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024 reveals a 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020. This report highlights the significant impact of habitat loss, climate change, and over-exploitation on global biodiversity.
Key data points
- Wildlife population decline: 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations from 1970-2020, up from 69% reported in 2022.
- Ecosystem-specific declines:
- Freshwater ecosystems: 85% decline
- Terrestrial ecosystems: 69% decline
- Marine ecosystems: 56% decline
- Main threats to wildlife: Habitat loss, degradation, over-exploitation, invasive species, and diseases.
- Data source: Living Planet Index (LPI) provided by the Zoological Society of London, covering trends from 5,495 species and nearly 35,000 population records.
UPSC syllabus relevance
- GS Paper III: Environment and Ecology – Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
- Essay paper: Topics related to climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development.
- Current affairs: Issues concerning wildlife conservation, climate change policies, and environmental protection strategies.
