Are We Losing All of our Wildlife?

An alarming new report released last month by the Worldwide Wildlife Foundation (WWF) in conjunction with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has indicated that the Earth could be facing its biggest mass extinction of wildlife since the dinosaurs were wiped from the face of the planet.

By studying the global populations of all manner of beasts – from mammals and fish to reptiles, amphibians and birds – the report has projected that more than two-thirds of all animal species will have been obliterated by 2020 compared to levels in 1970.

67% of animal life extinct by 2020

The paper, entitled The Living Planet Report 2016, was released by the WWF and ZSL in late October and makes some very concerning observations about the decline of biodiversity on our planet. It is being hailed as the most comprehensive survey of the overall welfare of the Earth ever created – and it doesn’t make for pleasant reading.

After analysing population fluctuations of 14,200 different animals in 3,700 distinct species, the report concluded that in the years up until 2012, the Earth had already lost a staggering 57% of its total wildlife diversity since 1970.

Even more alarmingly, the study warned that the problem would continue to worsen if we do not alter out pollutant and wasteful ways. If things continue in the same vein as they are now, it projected that 67% of all animal species will be lost within four years.

What’s to blame?

The decline in animal populations can be attributed to a number of different factors – but all of them appear to be primarily manmade. Loss of habitat is believed to be the biggest threat to endangered species, brought about by a mixture of different human activities. These include, but are not limited to:

• Climate change
• Commercial development
• Energy production
• Herbicide and pesticide use
• Industrial growth
• Invasive species introduction
• Logging
• Mining
• Overexploitation of natural resources, including mass-hunting
• Poaching
• Pollution
• Unsustainable methods of farming and agriculture

Clearly, the issue is a multi-faceted one which will need attention and a concerted effort from governments, businesses and individuals across the world. With world leaders meeting late last year in Paris to come to an agreement on how best to curb emissions and reduce our global carbon footprint, it's clear that the time for change is now.

What the experts say

In the report, a handful of prominent environmental scientists, thinkers and campaigners gave their opinions on its findings and how best to proceed.

“For the first time since the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, we face a global mass extinction of wildlife. We ignore the decline of other species at our peril – for they are the barometer that reveals our impact on the world that sustains us. Humanity’s misuse of natural resources is threatening habitats, pushing irreplaceable species to the brink and threatening the stability of our climate,” explained Mike Barratt, the WWF’s Director of Science and Policy in the UK.

“We know how to stop this. It requires governments, businesses and citizens to rethink how we produce, consume, measure success and value the natural environment. In the UK, this demands a serious plan to strengthen protection for habitats and species and new measures to fast track low-carbon growth. Britain, like all developed nations, must take increasing responsibility for its global footprint. December’s conference on the UN Convention on Biological Diversity would be a good place for the UK government to signal that it’s serious about helping tackle the global loss of species,” he added.

Meanwhile, ZSL’s Director of Science Ken Norris called for the report to act as a wake-up call to our wasteful ways. “Human behaviour continues to drive the decline of wildlife populations globally, with particular impact on freshwater habitats. Importantly, however, these are declines – they are not yet extinctions – and this should be a wake-up call to marshal efforts to promote the recovery of these populations.”