The Living Planet Report 2024 stated that the number of species worldwide had decreased by 73% in 50 years, a significant increase over the 69% drop that was documented two years prior.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) claimed in its biennial report that freshwater ecosystems have experienced the greatest reduction, at 85%, followed by terrestrial ecosystems at 69% and marine ecosystems at 56%.
Species Decline Percentage
Check the table blow to understand the percentage wise decine in the number of species in different ecosystems.
| Ecosystem Type | Species Decline (%) |
| Freshwater Ecosystems | 85% |
| Terrestrial Ecosystems | 69% |
| Marine Ecosystems | 56% |
| Overall Global Decline | 73% (over 50 years) |
How was this Data Collected?
The study's conclusions were derived from the Living Planet Index (LPI), a global dataset supplied by the Zoological Society of London that includes 32,000 populations of 5,230 different species.
Declining Vulture Population in India
Officials from WWF India claimed that although data specific to India was not included in the report, the animals with the greatest declines in the Indian region were frogs, birds, mammals, bees, and freshwater turtles.
The research called attention to the concerning decline of the three vulture species found in India: the slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris), the Indian vulture (Gyps indicus), and the white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis).
Cause of Species Decline
According to the report, the biggest concern is habitat loss and degradation, which is mostly caused by food systems. According to the statement, illnesses, invasive species, and overexploitation along with the consequences of the climate catastrophe are driving wildlife and ecosystems beyond their carrying capacity.
Damaged Ecosystem Are More Vulnerable
According to the research, these decreases may serve as early warning signs of growing extinction danger and the possible demise of healthy ecosystems. As per the statement issued by WWF, "ecosystems that are damaged can become more vulnerable to tipping points." The need of the hour is team effort, exhibited not only by few countries but the whole world.
The Indian government's "proactive government initiatives, effective habitat management, and robust scientific monitoring, combined with community engagement and public support" were noted as some of the actions that have contributed to the stabilization of some species. The country's growing tiger population was provided as the main example. A minimum of 3,682 tigers were counted in the All-India Tiger Estimation 2022, a considerable increase above the 2,967 projected in 2018.
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