SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Three out of four animals gone – in just 50 years

On 50 years, the populations of wild vertebrates – everything from frogs to elephants – have decreased by 73 percent, shows a new report from WWF. Unbelievable, thinks WWF's nature conservation expert Olle Forshed: Is it even possible to get closer to a collapse?

» Updated: 10 October 2024, 13:24

» Published: 10 October 2024

Three out of four animals gone – in just 50 years
Photo: Anders Humlebo/TT

WWF's Living Planet Report 2024 covers nearly 35,000 population trends of 5,495 wild vertebrates – birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish species.

The data set we use is significantly larger now than in previous years and provides a stronger picture of what is actually happening, says Olle Forshed, an expert on WWF regarding the report.

There are positive examples of vertebrates recovering and returning, such as the mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains in East Africa and the wisents in Central Europe.

However, between 1970 and 2020, the size of wild vertebrate populations decreased by an average of 73 percent.

If we think of a normal population as 100 animals, it's now only 27, says Olle Forshed.

Affecting Ecosystems

Vertebrates are often high up in the food chain, and when they disappear, it affects the entire ecosystem. Olle Forshed takes the African forest elephant as an example. Between 2004 and 2014, the population decreased by 78 to 81 percent.

They are natural seed dispersers and create much of the species composition in forests. When they disappear, seed dispersal suffers, and over time, it leads to forests having a different type of vegetation, which may not bind the same amount of carbon or provide the same water circulation.

When ecosystems are damaged, their ability to provide us with clean air, water, and food decreases. They also become more vulnerable to so-called tipping points, which can lead to irreversible changes. Globally, there are several examples – the Amazon is one of the most obvious.

When it becomes deforested to around 20-25 percent, the water systems do not circulate in the same way, and eventually, it will lead to many species and the entire system collapsing.

Major Effects

Such a collapse would change weather patterns and affect food production. Today, the Amazon is deforested to 17 percent. According to WWF, a staggering 95 percent of animals have disappeared in Latin America and the Caribbean, mainly due to the extinction of many amphibians.

We must avoid that tipping point. We cannot let it happen.

The destruction of animals' natural habitats, along with hunting and fishing, are the main reasons why vertebrates are decreasing.

WWF believes that food, finance, and energy systems, as well as nature conservation, must be transformed.

It is urgent to create a process for animals, nature, and humans to live together. Humans must take up less space or share the space.

The strongest decline is found in freshwater ecosystems, where vertebrate populations have decreased by 85 percent, followed by land-based ecosystems (-69 percent) and marine ecosystems (-56 percent).

Over 80 percent of all threatened bird and mammal species on land are threatened by habitat loss caused by agriculture. Other causes are overexploitation, invasive species, diseases, pollution, and climate change.

The largest declines of the studied populations are found in Latin America and the Caribbean (-95 percent), Africa (-76 percent), and the Asia-Pacific region (-60 percent).

Source: WWF

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Suspected sabotaged cable to be repaired
1 MIN READ

Suspected sabotaged cable to be repaired

Police evict demonstrators in Gothenburg
1 MIN READ

Police evict demonstrators in Gothenburg

Swedish police are no longer allowed to enter Norway
1 MIN READ

Swedish police are no longer allowed to enter Norway

A prick in the finger can reveal Alzheimer's
2 MIN READ

A prick in the finger can reveal Alzheimer's

The Snow Chaos Continues – SMHI Warns
2 MIN READ

The Snow Chaos Continues – SMHI Warns

No Longer Rich and Famous Targets for Kidnappers
3 MIN READ

No Longer Rich and Famous Targets for Kidnappers

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly
2 MIN READ

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly

Resignation Demand on Demirok: "Weak Leadership"
3 MIN READ

Resignation Demand on Demirok: "Weak Leadership"

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note
1 MIN READ

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice
1 MIN READ

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"
2 MIN READ

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö
1 MIN READ

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"
1 MIN READ

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms
1 MIN READ

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant
1 MIN READ

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"
1 MIN READ

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable
1 MIN READ

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.
3 MIN READ

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship
1 MIN READ

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship

Man arrested for new sex crimes against children
1 MIN READ

Man arrested for new sex crimes against children