Biodiversity: According to WWF, wild animal populations continue to decline sharply

According to a report by the environmental organization WWF, many of the world's wildlife populations continue to decline sharply. From 1970 to 2022, the vertebrate populations recorded therein shrank by an average of 73 percent. Against this background, the WWF calls for systematic protection of biodiversity.

According to the report, rivers, lakes and other freshwater habitats were hardest hit. The decline there was an average of 85 percent. The WWF said there was a decline of 69 percent on land and 59 percent in the seas. The reason is man-made. Food production, energy supply and the financial system are largely responsible for the loss of habitat and its deterioration.

In the oceans, the decline in animal populations is occurring somewhat more slowly. Lower fishing quotas and increased controls for certain species of tuna, for example, have helped to reverse the strong negative trend. However, the development is still negative for many sharks and rays.

According to the WWF, animals that live in freshwater are more affected. They are exposed to numerous human environmental impacts, such as water pollution, overuse, canalization and dam construction. These threatened fish stocks. Species such as hippos, otters, crocodiles and large turtles are also affected by infrastructure projects.

Populations can recover

“Without biological diversity on this planet, there would be a lack of food, medicine, clean water and safe places to live,” said Kathrin Samson, head of nature conservation at WWF Germany. She warned that humanity was subsidizing the destruction of its own livelihoods.

According to the information, around 33 times as much money worldwide flows into activities that damage nature as into protecting and restoring nature. “Politicians, banks and investors must redirect these money flows and make the protection of nature a condition for financing,” said Samson.

However, she sees reason for hope: "The downward trend can be reversed if we firmly anchor the protection of nature in the economy, politics and society." The report shows that targeted protective measures, for example for the green sea turtle, the tiger and individual elephant populations in southern Africa, can enable a recovery. Political will and cooperation between governments, nature conservation organizations and the local population are often decisive.