Technology

news.com.au | science
Earths wildlife population faces massive
decline
RESEARCH has found Earths wildlife population has declined by 52 per cent over the past 40 years.
The Living Planet Report, released every two years by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and the Zoological Society
of London, provides a snapshot of Earths wildlife populations and the most recent results look bleak.
Measuring more than 10,000 populations of 5,000 species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish, the research
found that in two human generations the Living Planet Index (LPI), a representative number of the Earths wildlife
populations, had declined by 52 per cent since 1970.
As to the reasons why there has been such a steep decline, the top reasons were exploitation at 37 per cent and habitat
degradation/change at 31.4 per cent, with habitat loss and climate change at 13.4 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively.
A second index within the report showed that humans were using Earths resources quicker than the planet can restock
them, contributing to the above reasons for extensive wildlife loss.
Not all is lost, however, as intensive conservation efforts have led to recovering populations such as those of Tigers in
Nepal and Otters in England, both of which were near extinction.
Still, David Nussbaum, chief executive of WWF-UK, believes these statistics should be a wake-up call, saying we all
politicians, businesses and people have an interest, and a responsibility, to act to ensure we protect what we all
value: a healthy future for both people and nature.
This is an edited version of an article which originally appeared on Ask Men.
BY:
FROM: ASKMEN
2 DAYS AGO OCTOBER 04, 2014 5:15PM
Elephants are in serious danger. Source: Supplied
SOURCE: http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/earths-wildlife-population-faces-massive-decline/story-fnjwkt0b-1227080029166