According to the current ‘Living Planet Report‘ by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), monitored wildlife populations decline by 73% over the last 50 years, between 1970 and 2020. This worrying drop is primarily due to habitat loss, climate change, and pollution. The paper describes how continued habitat destruction, increasing temperatures, and environmental contamination wreak havoc on animals worldwide. Freshwater habitats have been hit the hardest, with an 85% decline in wildlife populations, followed by terrestrial ecosystems at 69% and marine ecosystems at 56%.

India has also seen substantial losses in critical species, particularly vultures. Between 1992 and 2022, the white-rumped vulture population declined by 67%, the Indian vulture by 48%, and the slender-billed vulture by 89%. These decreases underscore the significant pressures on wildlife globally and within specific locations.

Conservation and Recovery in India

India, despite the global concerns, stands as a beacon of hope. The country’s diligent conservation initiatives have led to the stabilization and even recovery of certain wildlife populations. Government measures, excellent habitat management, scientific monitoring, community engagement, and public backing have all played a significant role in this achievement. A prime example is the revival of the tiger population. India, home to the world’s highest tiger population, recorded 3,682 tigers in 2023, up from 2,967 in 2018, according to the All-India Tiger Estimation.

In addition, the first Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) projected 718 snow leopards spanning 70% of their area, demonstrating the success of animal conservation initiatives. However, while these examples offer some promise, the situation could be better. Habitat degradation and the effects of climate change continue to be major threats to India’s biodiversity.

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Urgent Need for Global Action

The ‘Living Planet Report 2024’ emphasizes the crucial relationship between nature, climate, and human well-being as wildlife populations decline by 73%. Ravi Singh, Secretary General and CEO of WWF-India, stressed that the decisions and actions in the next five years will be critical to the planet’s survival. Although governments have pledged to achieve global goals such as preventing biodiversity loss and reducing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius through the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement, the WWF warns that current state commitments must be revised to accomplish the 2030 target.

The report underscores the urgent need for global cooperation to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. This will require significant changes in energy, food, and financial systems. As ecological deterioration accelerates, fuelled by rising urbanization, the risks of reaching tipping points—when ecosystem damage becomes irreversible—heighten.

For instance, in Chennai, rapid urbanization has led to an 85% loss of wetland acreage, reducing crucial services such as water retention, groundwater recharge, and flood regulation. This has increased the city’s susceptibility to climate-related disasters like droughts and flooding, which are exacerbated by climate change. The WWF report’s message is clear: swift, large-scale measures are needed to prevent further damage to ecosystems and species and to ensure the survival of both the environment and humans.

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