The "Living Planet Report 2020",
published by the World Wildlife Fund this week, has
analysed and tracked global data on 20,811 populations of 4,392 vertebrate
species in habitats across the world.
It has concluded that the populations of mammals, birds fish, amphibians and reptiles have seen a catastrophic average decline of 68% since 1970.
Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the most alarming decline with an average decrease of 94% in vertebrate wildlife populations. Fish, reptiles and amphibians in the region were most negatively affected, driven by the overexploitation of ecosystems, habitat fragmentation and disease.
Africa and the Asia Pacific region have also experienced large declines decreasing by 65% and 45% respectively. In North America, a 33% decrease was recorded whilst Europe and central Asia recorded a 24% decrease.
Although not specifically referred to in this report, it should also be remembered that the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world due to habitat deterioration and destruction, the way that we exploit and manage our landscapes and our failure to effectively protect and conserve our wildlife.
This has all happened in significantly less than my own lifetime.
It is unbelievably appalling not just in terms of the destruction of the natural world and the over-exploitation of natural resources but also the real threat that it poses to our own existence as a species.
The "Living Planet Report 2020" states that this decline shows no sign of slowing and it warns that nature is being destroyed by humans at a rate never seen before.
Tanya Steele, the Chief Executive of the World Wildlife Fund, says: “We are wrecking our world - the one place we call home - risking our health, security and survival here on Earth. Now nature is sending us a desperate SOS and time is running out."
The "Living Planet Report 2020" also says that the Covid-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of how nature and humans are intertwined. Factors which lead to the emergence of pandemics, including habitat loss and the exploitation and trade of wildlife, are also some of the drivers behind the decline in nature, not to mention a direct threat to the survival of our own species.
New modelling evidence suggests we can halt and even reverse these trends if we take urgent conservation action and change the way we live as humans on our planet.
The TV presenter and naturalist Sir David Attenborough has said that the Anthropocene, the geological age during which human activity has come to the fore, could be the moment we achieve a balance with the natural world and become stewards of our planet. Doing so will require systemic shifts in how we produce and consume food, how we create energy, how we travel and how we protect and manage natural resources. He says: "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."
Sir David's simple and powerful message is: “What happens next is up to every one of us."
We can remain totally unaware of what we are doing to our planet or stick our fingers in our ears and close and eyes and ignore the impact that humans are having which is leading to biodiversity loss and extinction on a catastrophic scale (in addition to the immense impacts of the climate emergency).
Alternatively, we can behave as responsible citizens of the world, take individual actions in respect of our own lifestyles and join and support local, national and international campaigning groups to drive social, economic and political change to support a sustainable planet.
Just putting out your recycling bags every week is not enough.
Expecting "everyone else" to change their lifestyle is not enough.
Expecting "the Government" to sort it out is not enough, especially given this Government's fake green credentials and lack of robust and meaningful action.
We all have a duty to acknowledge and accept that we are facing a huge and worsening crisis and to take action in response to it. Anything else is a complete abrogation of personal responsibility.
Think and act locally, think and act globally.
Stand up for nature, take action for your planet.
It has concluded that the populations of mammals, birds fish, amphibians and reptiles have seen a catastrophic average decline of 68% since 1970.
Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the most alarming decline with an average decrease of 94% in vertebrate wildlife populations. Fish, reptiles and amphibians in the region were most negatively affected, driven by the overexploitation of ecosystems, habitat fragmentation and disease.
Africa and the Asia Pacific region have also experienced large declines decreasing by 65% and 45% respectively. In North America, a 33% decrease was recorded whilst Europe and central Asia recorded a 24% decrease.
Although not specifically referred to in this report, it should also be remembered that the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world due to habitat deterioration and destruction, the way that we exploit and manage our landscapes and our failure to effectively protect and conserve our wildlife.
This has all happened in significantly less than my own lifetime.
It is unbelievably appalling not just in terms of the destruction of the natural world and the over-exploitation of natural resources but also the real threat that it poses to our own existence as a species.
The "Living Planet Report 2020" states that this decline shows no sign of slowing and it warns that nature is being destroyed by humans at a rate never seen before.
Tanya Steele, the Chief Executive of the World Wildlife Fund, says: “We are wrecking our world - the one place we call home - risking our health, security and survival here on Earth. Now nature is sending us a desperate SOS and time is running out."
The "Living Planet Report 2020" also says that the Covid-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of how nature and humans are intertwined. Factors which lead to the emergence of pandemics, including habitat loss and the exploitation and trade of wildlife, are also some of the drivers behind the decline in nature, not to mention a direct threat to the survival of our own species.
New modelling evidence suggests we can halt and even reverse these trends if we take urgent conservation action and change the way we live as humans on our planet.
The TV presenter and naturalist Sir David Attenborough has said that the Anthropocene, the geological age during which human activity has come to the fore, could be the moment we achieve a balance with the natural world and become stewards of our planet. Doing so will require systemic shifts in how we produce and consume food, how we create energy, how we travel and how we protect and manage natural resources. He says: "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."
Sir David's simple and powerful message is: “What happens next is up to every one of us."
We can remain totally unaware of what we are doing to our planet or stick our fingers in our ears and close and eyes and ignore the impact that humans are having which is leading to biodiversity loss and extinction on a catastrophic scale (in addition to the immense impacts of the climate emergency).
Alternatively, we can behave as responsible citizens of the world, take individual actions in respect of our own lifestyles and join and support local, national and international campaigning groups to drive social, economic and political change to support a sustainable planet.
Just putting out your recycling bags every week is not enough.
Expecting "everyone else" to change their lifestyle is not enough.
Expecting "the Government" to sort it out is not enough, especially given this Government's fake green credentials and lack of robust and meaningful action.
We all have a duty to acknowledge and accept that we are facing a huge and worsening crisis and to take action in response to it. Anything else is a complete abrogation of personal responsibility.
Think and act locally, think and act globally.
Stand up for nature, take action for your planet.
💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature
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