WWF Living Planet Report 2024: Urgent Call to Address Wildlife Decline and Environmental Tipping Points

(GS Paper -1 : General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change)

GS Paper-3: Environmental issues, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development)

WWF International has reported a staggering 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020, as detailed in their Living Planet Report 2024.

This decline highlights the critical environmental tipping points the world is approaching due to climate change and biodiversity loss.

Freshwater ecosystems are particularly hard-hit, with an 85% decline, followed by 69% in terrestrial environments and 56% in marine ecosystems.

Habitat loss and degradation, primarily caused by unsustainable food systems, along with overexploitation, invasive species, and pollution, are the main drivers of this crisis.

The report emphasizes that declines in wildlife populations are an early warning of potential ecosystem collapse, which could lead to irreversible global impacts like the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs, severely affecting food security and livelihoods.

WWF Director General Kirsten Schuijt expressed concern about the intertwined crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, warning that these global tipping points threaten to destabilize ecosystems and human societies alike.

India, for instance, has experienced significant wildlife declines, particularly in vulture populations, with dramatic drops in species such as the white-rumped, Indian, and slender-billed vultures.

However, successful government interventions have led to the recovery of some wildlife populations, including tigers. The recent Snow Leopard Population Assessment also sheds light on the state of these big cats, estimating a population of 718 across 70% of their range.

The report also highlights that the convergence of environmental degradation and climate change increases the risk of local tipping points.

For example, the destruction of wetlands in Chennai by urban expansion has left the city more vulnerable to drought and flooding. In response, the government has initiated efforts to restore these crucial ecosystems.

WWF-India's Secretary General, Ravi Singh, stressed the importance of coordinated global action to address these challenges, stating that the next five years are crucial for reversing the damage. He emphasized that addressing climate change and nature conservation together is the key to creating a sustainable future.

To achieve this, transformative changes in energy, food, and finance systems are essential, alongside inclusive conservation efforts that respect Indigenous Peoples' rights and local communities' needs.

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