The WWF’s 2024 Living Planet Report, in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), paints a stark picture of our planet’s biodiversity crisis. It reveals that since 1970, wildlife populations have plummeted by an alarming average of 73%, a trend that warns of deeper systemic issues in our relationship with nature. As we near critical ecological tipping points, the next five years are crucial if we are to address the intertwined challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. This blog explores the key findings of the report and the urgent actions required to reverse this dangerous course.
Biodiversity: The Foundation of Life
Biodiversity is not just a nice-to-have feature of our planet; it is the cornerstone of life itself, sustaining human societies in countless ways. From providing food and clean water to regulating the climate, biodiversity forms the backbone of healthy ecosystems. Yet, every global indicator tracking the state of nature points to a sharp decline. The latest Living Planet Index (LPI), covering almost 35,000 populations across 5,495 species, shows that wildlife populations on average have shrunk by 73% in the last five decades.
WWF (2024) Living Planet Report 2024 – A System in Peril. WWF, Gland, Switzerland.
This means that the ecosystem services that we rely on—pollination, seed dispersal, water purification, nutrient cycling—are being compromised. As species decline, ecosystems lose resilience, making them more vulnerable to disturbances such as disease outbreaks or extreme weather events. This, in turn, directly threatens human well-being.
The Global Scale of Decline
One of the most concerning aspects of the report is the uneven yet pervasive nature of biodiversity loss across different ecosystems and regions. Freshwater ecosystems have been hardest hit, with populations declining by a staggering 85%. Terrestrial populations have dropped by 69%, while marine populations have declined by 56%.
Latin America and the Caribbean have seen the steepest declines, with an almost unimaginable 95% drop in wildlife populations since 1970, followed by Africa (76%) and Asia and the Pacific (60%).
Regions like Europe and Central Asia (35% decline) and North America (39% decline) show less dramatic trends, but these figures reflect early conservation efforts in these areas, as well as the fact that many declines occurred before 1970.
What’s Driving Biodiversity Loss?
At the heart of this crisis is habitat degradation and destruction, which are largely driven by our food systems. The expansion of agriculture, deforestation, overfishing, and unsustainable resource extraction are eroding the natural world at an alarming rate. Direct pressures like hunting and pollution also play significant roles, as does the introduction of invasive species that disrupt native ecosystems.
Climate change further compounds these threats. While still a secondary factor compared to habitat loss, its effects are growing more severe. Species are being forced to migrate towards the poles and to higher elevations in search of suitable climates, leading to further disruption of ecosystems.
Misunderstandings About the Data
The headline figure of a 73% decline in wildlife populations can sometimes be misinterpreted. It is important to clarify what this statistic does—and does not—mean. It does not indicate that 73% of species are extinct or that the same percentage of populations are in decline. Rather, it is an average decline across the populations studied. In fact, about half of the populations tracked are either stable or increasing, while the other half are declining.
This nuanced understanding is critical because it allows us to distinct the regions and populations that are struggling the most and adjust our restoration efforts accordingly. It also underscores the importance of continuing to monitor biodiversity trends, so we can identify where interventions are most urgently needed and if implemented interventions are effective.
Regional Insights and Data Changes
Since the last report in 2022, the Living Planet Index has been updated with data from nearly 3,000 additional populations and 250 more species. This expanded dataset provides a more comprehensive view of global biodiversity. However, the inclusion of new populations, particularly in regions like Africa, has contributed to shifts in the trends, revealing more severe declines in certain areas.
Another major change in the 2024 report is the exclusion of non-native species from the analysis, allowing for a more accurate picture of native biodiversity health. The exclusion of non native and invasive species is an interesting move. Non native and invasive species often thrive in the environments they invaded painting a picture of population increase. However these alien species are a massive threat to biodiverity as the reduce the habitat of native species and usually lead to an overall decline in biodiversity of the ecosystem they invaded. For more information on the effects of non native and invasive species head over to our blogpost on Exploring the World of Invasive Species.
Excluding non native and invasive species from the report also helps explain some of the differences between the 2022 and 2024 reports, particularly in regions like Europe and Central Asia, where non-native species previously influenced the trends.
A Path Forward: Solutions for Recovery
Despite the grim statistics, the 2024 Living Planet Report also highlights that we still have time to halt and even reverse biodiversity loss—if we act now. Solutions exist, and many have already shown promise in localised contexts. Conservation and restoration efforts, such as reintroducing species and protecting critical habitats, have successfully restored populations of species like the European bison, Eurasian beaver, and wolves across Europe.
Key actions we must take to slow and reverse biodiversity loss include:
- Ending deforestation and reducing the land used for agriculture through more efficient, sustainable farming practices.
- Protecting high-biodiversity areas, including marine ecosystems, wetlands, and rainforests.
- Tackling overfishing and ensuring sustainable management of marine resources.
- Restoration efforts, from reforestation projects to wetland rehabilitation, can help restore degraded ecosystems.
Time is Running Out
Nevertheless time is running fast and the next five years are critical. Without a monumental collective effort, we risk crossing irreversible ecological tipping points that could make recovery impossible. Addressing biodiversity loss and climate change must go hand in hand, as these crises are deeply interconnected. Restoring ecosystems will not only help stabilise the climate but also ensure the continued provision of the essential services that nature provides to humanity.
The 2024 Living Planet Report is a sobering reminder of the fragility of our natural world. But it is also a call to action. The solutions are within reach—what we need now is the collective will to implement them at scale and with urgency. For the sake of the planet, us and future generations, we cannot afford to wait.
References:
Hannah Ritchie and Fiona Spooner (2024) – “The 2024 Living Planet Index reports a 73% average decline in wildlife populations — what’s changed since the last report?” Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/2024-living-planet-index’ [Online Resource]
WWF (2024) Living Planet Report 2024 – A System in Peril. WWF, Gland, Switzerland.
