Very worrying figures.
Wildlife populations have fallen by more than two-thirds (68%) in less than 50 years, according to a recent report by the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The report says that this “catastrophic decline” shows no sign of slowing down.
It states that nature has been in “freefall”, mostly due to human activity, largely due to intensive agriculture and the destruction of habitat.
Large amounts of destruction have been part of the process for producing food.
The WWF said: “Science does not lie. The average population size of mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians has declined by 68% since 1970. We can’t continue like this or there will be nothing left for future generations.
“There’s no time to waste. We must take action now if nature is going to recover.”
The report also says the Covid-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of how nature and humans are intertwined, and how 2020 has reminded everyone how quickly things can change for everyone across the world.
David Attenborough published an essay alongside the report, where he said that making the necessary changes are absolutely crucial.
He said: “Doing so will require systemic shifts in how we produce food, create energy, manage our oceans and use materials.
“But above all it will require a change in perspective. A change from viewing nature as something that’s optional or ‘nice to have’ to the single greatest ally we have in restoring balance to our world.”
You can read the WWF’s Living Planet Report in full here.
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