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Reports by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have made alarming revelations about the massive loss of global biodiversity, which has declined by 69% since 1970. According to the Living Planet Report 2022, the human race is facing a twin crisis as biodiversity is being lost. and climate change, both of which are driven by the unsustainable use of resources available on planet Earth. Latin America shows the largest regional decline in average population (94%), according to the Living Planet report published by WWF on October 13, 2022.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) officials say Africa’s alarming species decline, fueled by climate change, unplanned development and pollution, requires bold policy and legislative action to reverse.
Loss of biodiversity thereby
#BREAKING! Species population numbers have plummeted by 69% on average since 1970.
Nature is sending us an SOS: our life-line is in danger.
We need to turn things around – now. RT if you’re with us #ForALivingPlanet! #LivingPlanet #LPR2022 pic.twitter.com/LovbPvSwC5
— WWF (@WWF) October 12, 2022
A million plants and animals are threatened with extinction. 1-2.5% of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish have already become extinct, the report said. According to the Living Planet report, Latin America suffered the largest decline regionally at 94%, followed by Africa at 66%, Asia-Pacific at 55%, North America at 20% and Europe-Central Asia at 18%.
The 2022 edition of the Living Planet Report revealed that wildlife populations in Africa declined by 66 percent between 1970 and 2018, thanks to poaching, climate shocks and the degradation of their natural habitats.
However, the report pointed to positive trends in Central Africa, where the mountain gorilla population increased from 408 in 2010 to 604 in 2015 thanks to increased conservation measures.
During the virtual launch of WWF’s flagship Living Planet Report 2022 in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Thursday, Alice Ruhweza, Regional Director for Africa, WWF-International, said African countries need more funding and policy change to accelerate nature-positive growth.
Ruhweza added that mining activities, poaching, industrial agriculture and urbanization have exacerbated the decline of Africa’s flagship species at the expense of green growth, pointing out that increased protection of biodiversity hotspots will strengthen the continent’s fight against poverty, hunger and climate-induced water stress.
She called on African governments to lobby for a more inclusive and ambitious framework to protect the planet’s resources during the Global Biodiversity Summit scheduled for December 7-19 in Montreal, Canada, Xinhua reported.
Jackson Kiplagat, head of conservation programs at WWF-Kenya, said reversing habitat loss in Africa is possible with innovative funding focused on conservation, law enforcement and greater community involvement.
