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Press Release : WWF’s Living Planet Report 2024 reveals a system in peril
Thimphu, October 10, 2024 -There has been a catastrophic 73 percent decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations in just 50 years (1970-2020), according to WWF’s Living Planet Report (LPR) 2024. The report reveals a system in peril as the world approaches dangerous and irreversible tipping points driven by nature loss and climate change.
Thimphu, October 10, 2024 -There has been a catastrophic 73 percent decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations in just 50 years (1970-2020), according to WWF’s Living Planet Report (LPR) 2024. The report reveals a system in peril as the world approaches dangerous and irreversible tipping points driven by nature loss and climate change.
The report warns that, as the Earth approaches dangerous tipping points posing grave threats to the future of life on Earth, a huge collective effort will be required over the next five years to tackle the dual climate and nature crises.
The Living Planet Index (LPI), provided by ZSL (Zoological Society of London), includes almost 35,000 population trends of 5,495 species from 1970-2020. The strongest decline is in freshwater ecosystems (-85 percent), followed by terrestrial (-69 percent) and then marine (-56 percent). Habitat loss and degradation, driven primarily by our food system, is the most reported threat to wildlife populations in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by overexploitation, invasive species and disease, and pollution. In Asia-Pacific, monitored wildlife populations declined by 60 percent.
Declines in wildlife populations can act as an early warning indicator of increasing extinction risk and the potential loss of healthy ecosystems. When ecosystems are damaged they cease to provide humanity with the benefits we have come to depend on - clean air, water and healthy soils for food - and they can become more vulnerable to tipping points. A tipping point is when an ecosystem is pushed beyond a critical threshold resulting in substantial and potentially irreversible change.
Global tipping points, such as the dieback of the Amazon rainforest and the mass die-off of coral reefs, would create shockwaves far beyond the immediate area impacting food security and livelihoods. The warning comes as fire outbreaks in the Amazon reached their highest level in 14 years in August and a fourth global mass coral bleaching event was confirmed earlier this year.
In Bhutan, according to WWF-Bhutan’s perception survey conducted in Jigme Dorji National Park in May 2024 on the impacts of climate change on wildlife and communities as part of the Climate Crowd initiative, about 40 percent of the respondent reported that the change in weather and climate have impacted biodiversity, especially wildlife populations in the park.
Twenty-nine percent reported a shift in some species ranges in relation to observing new wildlife species near their communities. Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported increased mortality of plants and 16 percent reported changes in the life cycles of plants. Respondents noted that plants were flowering earlier in the year than usual. Twelve percent of respondents also reported an increase in invasive vegetation and weeds.
Similarly, in Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary, 45 percent of respondents reported that changes in weather and climate have been causing wildlife to shift their range, resulting in an increase in wildlife species nearby communities. While the respondents have noticed an increase in some species, they have also noticed a decline in other species like elephants, tigers, and hornbills. Wildlife is also being affected by reduced food sources in the wild and habitat degradation, according to the survey.
The Country Director for WWF-Bhutan, Chimi Rinzin said, “While the Living Planet Report Index show a worrying state of biodiversity loss and climate change, it also reminds us about the strength of our collective efforts. We could see some wildlife populations stabilizing and increasing in some parts of the world. Even in Bhutan, according to the Biodiversity Monitoring Grid ( BMG) report, diverse array of species across various ecosystems were reported, underscoing Bhutan’s status as a biodiveristy hotspots.”
WWF-Bhutan’s new strategic plan (2025-2029), he said, places climate adaptation and resilience, and freshwater protection and conservation at the core of their conservation works, aimed at building the resilience of both nature and people. ”This would allow us to address some of the concerns highlighted in the report, which includes the strongest decline in freshwater ecosystems of 85 percent,” he said.
Across three indices of marine, terrestrial and freshwater, the 2024 Living Planet Report shows the strongest decline is in the freshwater index (85 percent), with the updated LPI for migratory freshwater fish presenting a decline of 81 percent between 1970 and 2020.
In Bhutan, according to an assessment carried out by the Watershed Management Division across the country in 2021, 25.1 percent of the 500 sub-water sheds assessed during the survey were in the process of drying up and 0.9 percent have dried up. Climate change and forest degradation were reported to be accelerating the drying up of the water sources in the country.
The perception survey on the impact of climate change on the decrease in freshwater availability in Jomotsangkha Wildlife Sanctuary also reported that 45 percent of the total respondent had to change where they get their water from and 21 percent reported working to maintain and manage their existing water source. The survey was conducted as part of the Climate Crowd initiative.
However, the LPI does reveal some populations that have stabilized or increased due to effective conservation efforts, such as an increase in the sub-population of mountain gorillas of around 3 percent per year between 2010 - 2016 in the Virunga mountains in East Africa, and the comeback of European Bison populations in central Europe.
In Bhutan, the first ever biodiversity monitoring grid ( BMG) report released in July 2024, revealed a diverse array of species across various ecosystems, underscoring Bhutan's status as a biodiversity hotspot. The high detection rates of numerous species across different habitats, despite surveying only 0.6 percent of the total monitoring grids in the country, underscores Bhutan's vibrant and diverse ecosystems, according to the report.
“The report indicates a balanced presence of both predators and prey, emphasizing a well-maintained ecological equilibrium that is crucial for the stability and health of ecosystems. The findings also underscore the ecological importance of different species in Bhutan, from those that play critical roles in pest control and pollination to those that contribute to nutrient cycling and habitat maintenance.”
The presence of key species and the detection of numerous individuals across taxa demonstrate the success of Bhutan's conservation strategies and the country's ability to support diverse wildlife populations, the report states.
Globally, countries have already agreed on ambitious global goals to halt and reverse nature loss (the Global Biodiversity Framework), cap the global temperature rise to 1.5ºC (the Paris Agreement), and eradicate poverty (the UN Sustainable Development Goals). But the Living Planet Report says national commitments and action on the ground fall far short of what’s required to meet targets for 2030 and avoid dangerous tipping points.
Bhutan submitted its second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the UNFCCC, reiterating its ambition to be carbon neutral and provided a more policy, action and timeframe-oriented pathway to continue to respect the target in June 2021.
In addition to its first NDC submitted in 2009, Bhutan has enhanced its mitigation targets and actions through Low Energy Development Strategies (LEDS). The LEDS were developed for key sectors of agriculture and livestock (food security), human settlement, industries and transport, according to a report from Climate Action Tracker.
The international biodiversity and climate summits taking place shortly – COP16 and COP29 – are an opportunity for countries to rise to the scale of the challenge. WWF is calling for countries to produce and implement more ambitious national nature and climate plans (National Biodiversity Strategies and Action plans and NDCs) that include measures to reduce global overconsumption, halt and reverse both domestic and imported biodiversity loss and cut emissions – all in an equitable manner.
Contact:
Kinley Wangmo, Sr Manager (Communications & Marketing)
kinleywangmo@wwfbhutan.org.bt +975 17342610
Nima, Communications & Marketing Officer
nima@wwfbhutan.org.bt +975 17965819
Notes to Editor
- *The Living Planet Index shows an average 73 percent decline in monitored vertebrate wildlife populations (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish). The percentage change in the index reflects the average proportional change in monitored animal population sizes at sites around the world, not the number of individual animals lost, nor the number of populations lost.
- The LPR 2024 is the 15th edition of WWF's biennial flagship publication. The full report and summary versions of the report are available HERE, along with B-roll footage and images.
- Please note that successive iterations of the LPI are not directly comparable as they contain different sets of species. It is also important to note the significance of the 1970 baseline for the various regions monitored. In both Europe and North America large scale impacts on nature were already apparent before the start of the index in 1970, explaining why there is less of a negative trend. North America registered an average decline of 39 percent, while Europe and Central Asia registered a decline of 35 percent.
- Steepest declines in monitored wildlife populations were recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean (-95 percent), Africa (-76 percent) and Asia-Pacific (-60 percent).
- Global tipping points would pose grave threats to humanity and most species, and would damage Earth’s life-support systems and destabilize societies everywhere (see full report and Lenton et al. 2023). In the Amazon, as climate change and deforestation lead to reduced rainfall, scientists believe a tipping point could be reached where conditions become unsuitable for tropical forest. This would change regional and global weather patterns, impacting food production, and see the Amazon shift from being a carbon sink to a source of emissions. Coral reefs are also under extreme threat from climate change, with a fourth global mass coral bleaching event confirmed this year. Each bleaching event weakens the coral, leaving it unable to cope with other pressures, like pollution and overfishing. The mass die-off of coral reefs would destroy fisheries and reduce storm protection for coastal communities, as reefs act as buffers from waves, storms and floods.
- For more information on the perception survey conducted as part of the Climate Crowd initiative, see Climate Crowd
- Energy and food systems are the main drivers of climate change and nature loss. Fossil fuels contribute approximately 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Food production is the leading cause of habitat loss, accounts for 70 percent of water use, and is responsible for over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Nature-based solutions harness the power of nature to boost natural ecosystems, biodiversity and human well-being to address major societal issues, including climate change. For example, regenerative farming and the restoration of forests, wetlands and mangroves can boost carbon storage, enhance water and air quality, improve food and water security, and help protect against erosion and flooding.
- Countries are due to submit revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) aligned to the Global Biodiversity Framework before biodiversity COP16 in Cali, Colombia (21 October - 1 November 2024). WWF is urging countries to ensure these are ambitious and comprehensive and to boost biodiversity finance. You can read more about WWF’s expectations for COP16 here.
- Under the Paris Agreement countries must present new climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions - NDCs) in 2025, providing a blueprint for how they will contribute to limiting warming to 1.5ºC. These plans should include roadmaps for equitably phasing out fossil fuels and transforming food systems. At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan (11-22 November), WWF hopes to see the agreement of a new, ambitious climate finance goal to meet the mitigation and adaptation needs of developing countries. You can read more about WWF’s expectations for COP29 here.
About WWF-Bhutan
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is Bhutan’s oldest conservation partner. The partnership began in 1977 through capacity development of local conservation staff. The support gradually evolved into a full country program in 1992 with several collaborative conservation projects. Recognizing the need to conserve Bhutan’s natural capital and immense biological diversity, WWF-Bhutan supports the Royal Government with various environmental conservation programs. The programs include research and study, education and awareness, promotion of sustainable livelihoods, and protection of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Addressing human-wildlife conflict, illegal wildlife trade, and mitigating and adapting to climate change are of paramount importance to WWF-Bhutan’s conservation works in the country. By working closely with communities and the Royal Government on various educational, participatory and innovative initiatives, WWF-Bhutan strives to ensure a progressive convergence of nature, culture and economic vibrancy for a future where people live in harmony with nature. Visit our website for the latest news and follow us on social media pages.
About WWF
WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 30 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit www.panda.org/news for the latest news and media resources and follow us on Twitter @WWF_media.
About ZSL
Founded in 1826, ZSL is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world; by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, helping people and wildlife live together and inspiring support for nature. Through our leading conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, we bring people closer to nature and use our expertise to protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow.
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