𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝟕𝟑% 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬

…𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒎𝒊𝒅 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒍 𝑩𝒊𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒔, 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔

By Yeshey Lhadon

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has sounded a dire warning through its Living Planet Report (LPR) 2024, revealing a catastrophic 73 percent decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020. This sharp decline indicates the growing threats posed by climate change, habitat destruction, and overexploitation. With ecosystems nearing dangerous tipping points, the report calls for immediate global action over the next five years to prevent irreversible damage to the planet’s life-support systems.

The Living Planet Index (LPI), developed in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), tracked 35,000 population trends from 5,495 species over the 50-year period. According to the LPI, the largest decline has been observed in freshwater ecosystems, where populations have plummeted by 85 percent, followed by terrestrial species (-69 percent) and marine species (-56 percent). This grim scenario is compounded by the continued loss of biodiversity due to human activities, primarily unsustainable food systems, habitat destruction, and pollution.

The LPR paints a picture of ecosystems under severe strain as humanity approaches critical tipping points; moments where ecosystems, once pushed beyond a threshold, can no longer return to their previous state. The mass die-offs of coral reefs, degradation of rainforests, and the alarming decline of species around the globe foreshadow a potential collapse of vital environmental systems.

Global tipping points, such as the dieback of the Amazon rainforest and the mass death of coral reefs, could have profound consequences far beyond the regions where these changes occur. For instance, the Amazon rainforest is one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks that faces the risk of transitioning into a carbon source due to deforestation and reduced rainfall, with massive implications for global climate regulation.

This year’s report also highlights a fourth global mass coral bleaching event, further emphasizing the urgency of reversing current trends. Coral reefs, which are critical for supporting marine life and protecting coastlines, are at the brink of collapse due to rising ocean temperatures and pollution.

Wildlife populations in the Asia-Pacific region have also faced a 60 percent decline, with habitat loss being the primary driver of these changes. Overexploitation, the spread of invasive species, and pollution are secondary but significant contributors to the region’s environmental degradation. These trends have led to increased extinction risks for numerous species, threatening the delicate balance of ecosystems across the region.

In Bhutan, climate change is already affecting local wildlife and ecosystems. A perception survey conducted by WWF-Bhutan in May 2024 in Jigme Dorji National Park, as part of the Climate Crowd initiative, revealed that 40 percent of respondents reported climate-induced changes impacting biodiversity, with noticeable effects on local wildlife populations. Similarly, in Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, 45percent of respondents noticed shifts in wildlife species, with some animals moving closer to human settlements while others, such as elephants, tigers, and hornbills, are declining in number.

Changes in weather patterns, habitat degradation, and reduced food sources are also contributing to the decline of wildlife populations in the country, echoing the larger global trend.

Despite these alarming findings, Bhutan remains a biodiversity hotspot. According to the Biodiversity Monitoring Grid (BMG) report, released in July 2024, Bhutan’s ecosystems still support a rich array of species across diverse habitats. This report provides some hope that conservation efforts in the country have maintained a balanced presence of both predators and prey, which is crucial for maintaining ecological equilibrium.

“While the Living Planet Report shows a worrying state of biodiversity loss and climate change, it also reminds us of the strength of collective conservation efforts,” said Chimi Rinzin, Country Director of WWF-Bhutan. “We can see wildlife populations stabilizing and increasing in some parts of the world. Bhutan’s vibrant ecosystems, as shown in the BMG report, demonstrate the country’s potential to serve as a sanctuary for biodiversity if we continue to implement effective conservation strategies.”

Bhutan has a history of prioritizing conservation, but even here, the impacts of climate change are evident. 25 percent of the 500 sub-watersheds across the country, assessed by the Watershed Management Division in 2021, are in the process of drying up. This trend is exacerbated by both climate change and deforestation, with serious implications for water security and ecosystem health.

The most significant global decline has been observed in freshwater ecosystems, which have suffered an 85 percent drop in population size since 1970. In Bhutan, the effects of this crisis are becoming increasingly apparent. In Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, a perception survey revealed that 45 percent of respondents had to change their water sources, while 21 percent reported taking measures to maintain their existing water supplies due to the decrease in freshwater availability. These findings are consistent with global trends showing that freshwater habitats are among the most vulnerable to climate change and habitat destruction.

WWF-Bhutan’s new strategic plan prioritizes climate adaptation, resilience, and the protection of freshwater ecosystems. These efforts aim to address some of the issues highlighted in the Living Planet Report, specifically the decline in freshwater species.

The Living Planet Report 2024 not only documents the severity of biodiversity loss but also urges immediate, large-scale action to reverse these trends. The next five years are critical for halting the dangerous trajectory of biodiversity and ecosystem collapse, which could have devastating impacts on food security, water availability, and human health globally.

Governments around the world have made commitments through various international agreements, including the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement, to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and halt biodiversity loss. However, the report stresses that national commitments and real-world actions are currently insufficient to meet these targets by 2030.

The upcoming COP16 biodiversity summit in Colombia and COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan present crucial opportunities for world leaders to commit to more ambitious conservation and climate goals. According to WWF, these plans must include robust measures to reduce overconsumption, halt biodiversity loss, and curb emissions, all while ensuring equity for developing nations.

While the Living Planet Report paints a grim picture, it also highlights success stories where effective conservation efforts have yielded positive results. In East Africa, the sub-population of mountain gorillas has grown by 3 percent annually from 2010 to 2016, while European Bison populations have made a comeback in central Europe. Bhutan’s ongoing conservation initiatives, as demonstrated by the BMG report, also provide a model for protecting biodiversity in the face of mounting challenges.

The next five years will be critical for determining the future of life on Earth. Though the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, WWF’s message is clear: humanity has both the power and the opportunity to change the current trajectory and safeguard the planet’s natural heritage for generations to come.

The Living Planet Report 2024 offers a stark reminder of the urgent need for coordinated global action to halt the alarming decline in wildlife populations. While the situation is dire, there is still time to reverse these trends. Through collective action, enhanced conservation strategies, and bold commitments at international summits, there is hope that humanity can protect the planet’s biodiversity and ensure a sustainable future.