WWF: The population of wild species has decreased by 68% on average in half a century
In the latest issue of the "Life Force Report 2020" released by the World Wide Fund for Nature on September 10, the destruction of the natural environment caused the spread of zoonotic diseases, including the new crown pneumonia epidemic, in less than half a century. The global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish have fallen by an average of 68% in the past time.
The report shows that factors including land use change, wildlife use, and trade have increased the Earth’s vulnerability to pandemics, and are part of the reason why the global vertebrate population declined by 68% on average from 1970 to 2016.
The report also found that among all biomes, the population of freshwater wild animals has decreased the most, reaching 84%, which is equivalent to a 4% annual decrease since 1970.
Marco Lambertini, Director-General of WWF, said that the increasing destruction of nature by humans not only has a catastrophic impact on wildlife populations, but also on all aspects of human health and life.
During the global pandemic of the new crown pneumonia, it is more important than ever to take unprecedented and coordinated global actions to contain and reverse the global loss of biodiversity and wildlife populations, and to protect the future health and livelihood of human beings.
The Living Planet Report 2020 clarifies that only bolder and more ambitious conservation efforts and changes to the way humans produce and consume food can more quickly reduce the pressure on wildlife habitats and thereby reverse biodiversity Downtrend.
Changes include improving the efficiency and ecological sustainability of food production and trade, reducing waste, and encouraging healthier and more environmentally friendly diets.
Zhou Fei, deputy director-general of the WWF Beijing Representative Office, pointed out that scientists have used advanced models to deduct and point out the way forward.
Achieving the required changes is not an easy task, so leadership, unity and execution are more important.
Under the guidance of the concept of ecological civilization, China has made many beneficial attempts and efforts in strengthening ecological protection and promoting sustainable production and consumption in recent years.
The World Wide Fund for Nature supports China’s efforts in international organizations including the United Nations Nature Summit to be held at the end of September, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming in May 2021, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. On the stage, play a greater leading role.
(Headquarters reporter Gu Xuejia)