Living Planet Report 2024

Table of Contents

About Living Planet Report

It is a measure of global biodiversity that tracks population trends of vertebrate species across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.
The Institute of Zoology (Zoological Society of London) manages the Living Planet Index in a collaborative partnership with WWF..

Zoological Society of London

Established in 1826, it is an international conservation charity dedicated to the protection of wildlife.

What are the Key Findings of the Report?

Globally wildlife populations have decreased by 73% over the last 50 years.
- The conclusions are based on tracking 35,000 population trends across 5,495 species, including amphibians, mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles.
In India, decline was seen primarily in three vulture species – white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and slender-billed vulture.
Decline in Ecosystems:
- Freshwater populations: Highest decline at 85%.
- Terrestrial populations: Declined by 69%.
- Marine populations: Declined by 56%.
Major Causes of Habitat Loss:
- Habitat loss due to unsustainable agriculture, logging, mining, and fragmentation.
- Climate change.
- Invasive species and diseases.
Impacts:
- Ecosystem: When populations fall below a critical level, species may no longer perform essential ecological roles, such as seed dispersal, pollination, grazing, or nutrient cycling, threatening the overall functionality of ecosystems.
- Cumulative: It can eventually lead to ecological tipping points.

Fact

Ecological tipping points refer to critical thresholds in ecosystems where a small change in environmental conditions can lead to a dramatic and often irreversible shift in the ecosystem’s state.

World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)

It is the world’s leading conservation organisation operating in over 100 countries.
Established: Founded in 1961
Headquarter: Gland, Switzerland.
Mission: To conserve nature and address the most urgent threats to Earth’s biodiversity.