In less than 50 years, since 1970, the world’s animal population has declined by 69%, a scientific study by the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Zoological Society of London has shown.
This is a consequence of the activities of people who cut down forests and actively pollute the environment on an industrial scale, writes The Guardian. The rapid decline in the animal population occurred during the period between 1970 and 2018. And if just two years ago the figure was 68%, then two years earlier, that is, 4 years ago, it was 60%, which demonstrates the acceleration of the process.
Latin America and the Caribbean, including the Amazon, has seen the sharpest decline in average wildlife populations, down 94% in 48 years. Africa is second with 66%, followed by Asia and the Pacific with 55% and North America with 20%. In Europe and Central Asia, this figure is 18%.
Scientists agree that the most important factor in the loss of biodiversity on the planet is land use change. Animals are blocked by infrastructure and rural areas, so it is difficult for them to move around the terrestrial landscapes. In addition, only 37% of the rivers remain free along their entire length, and only 10% of protected areas on land are connected.
The researchers note that in recent years the planet is experiencing the sixth mass extinction of animals – the biggest loss of life on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs. In this regard, the 89 authors of the report call on leaders of all states to reach an ambitious agreement at the Cop15 Climate Summit on Biodiversity, which will be held in Canada in December 2022. It must include reducing carbon emissions and limiting global warming to below 1.5° from this decade. Only such a solution will stop the unrestrained destruction of nature.
Leading scientists are developing a standard for measuring animal conservation potential, known as its “green status”. Its adoption will allow researchers to begin the restoration of some species on Earth that are on the verge of extinction. It’s not too late to do it on the east coast of Australia, in the Himalayas, in the Amazon, in Southeast Asia and East Africa.
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