Global wildlife plummets by 73%: Living Planet Report reveals ecosystems are on the verge of collapse

The Living Planet Report revealed that the global wildlife population has plummeted by 73% from 1970 to 2020, with freshwater ecosystems being the most severely damaged, with the number of species reduced by 85%. Terrestrial and marine ecosystems also faced major impacts, declining by 69% and 56% respectively. These data show the worsening degradation of global ecosystems, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean, where wildlife populations have dropped by 95%.

The biggest threat to biodiversity: food production

The report points out that global food production is one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. Improper agricultural expansion, deforestation, overfishing, and infrastructure development have severely affected plant and animal habitats. The report emphasizes that these human activities have driven many species to the brink of extinction, especially land birds and mammals.

The report also pointed out that global food production accounts for 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions and causes 86% of species to be threatened with extinction. In particular, tropical rainforests have been deforested on a large scale, and many freshwater rivers have been cut off or over-extracted, causing the ecosystem to be overwhelmed.

The twin crises of hunger and climate change

Despite the severe environmental damage caused by the global food system, some 735 million people still face hunger and food insecurity. This shows that the current food production model not only causes serious damage to the environment, but also fails to effectively solve human food needs. The report warns that failure to effectively reform the global food production system will cause temperatures to rise beyond the 1.5°C limit, ultimately exacerbating the negative impacts of climate change.

The effectiveness of conservation actions and future challenges

Although global biodiversity is facing huge threats, some conservation actions have shown results. Successful cases mentioned in the report include the recovery of the mountain gorilla population in East Africa and the reintroduction plan of the European bison. These successful cases illustrate that through scientific and effective conservation measures, wildlife populations can recover.

However, these sporadic successes have not been enough to stem the collapse of the ecosystem. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) calls on governments and businesses to increase investment to ensure that biodiversity conservation actions can be promoted on a large scale. The report also pointed out that before 2030 is a critical period to achieve the goal of protecting 30% of land and oceans. Without timely action, the ecosystem will face irreversible disaster.

The greenest eating habits: India as a role model

The report specifically mentioned that India's eating habits were rated as the most environmentally friendly. If the world follows India's dietary pattern, the negative impact on the planet will be minimized. India mostly uses local ingredients, and this dietary pattern causes less damage to the environment. In comparison, the dietary patterns of Argentina, Australia, and the United States pose a greater threat to sustainable development.

To sum up, the reduction of biodiversity not only affects wild animals, but also seriously threatens the food security and economic stability of human society. The world needs to take urgent and larger-scale action to reform food systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect fragile ecosystems, and ensure the future of biodiversity.