Study: Astounding Loss of Global Biodiversity in Last 40 Years

Gautam Naik, science reporter for The Wall Street Journal, calls it "the most comprehensive study of animal populations to date." He notes that the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been compiling its biennial Living Planet Index, a measure of biodiversity, since 1998.`

The fastest declines were seen in rivers and other freshwaters systems, where populations fell 76% since 1970. By comparison, terrestrial and marine populations each fell 39%.

Major contributors to the loss of biodiversity include "increased habitat destruction (and) commercial fishing and hunting," writes Naik. "Climate change also is believed to be a factor, though its consequences are harder to measure." he adds.

The most dramatic decline was in Latin America, where overall populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish fell 83%. Asia-Pacific wasn't far behind.

According to WWF's press release on the Living Planet Report, the "biodiversity loss occurs disproportionately in low-income countries—and correlates with the increasing resource use of high-income countries."

Along the lines of resource consumption, Naik adds that "(t)he report calculates a global 'ecological footprint,' which measures the area required to supply the ecological goods and services humans use."

In his WWF blog, Jon Hoekstra writes that "(t)he report is always a must read update on the state of the planet, but this edition is especially important for anyone who cares about biodiversity."

The report can be accessed here.

[Access to WSJ article will be available to non-subscribers for up to seven days after Oct. 6]