The Living Planet report, issued biennially by WWF, finds that the biodiversity loss is being driven by the consumption of natural resources, which is occurring faster than the resources are being regenerated, putting greater stress on important habitats and the species they support.
To slow the rate of decline and restore biodiversity, WWF has mounted an ambitious conservation initiative to transform global markets by enlisting the help of some of the world’s biggest traders in natural resources including The Coca-Cola Company, Cargill, Walmart, Proctor & Gamble and IKEA. Since these companies have a financial stake in the well-being of the planet, they are examining their supply chains to ensure key commodities such as palm oil, soy, cotton, sugarcane, timber, pulp and paper and seafood are sustainably harvested.
Key highlights from the report
- The 2010 Living Planet Report documents the changing state of biodiversity, ecosystems and humanity’s consumption of natural resources, and explores the implications of these changes for the future of human health, wealth and well being. The report, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and the Global Footprint Network, uses the global Living Planet Index as a measure of the health of almost 8,000 populations of more than 2,500 species. It is one of the longest-running measures of global biodiversity trends.
- According to the index, global biodiversity is down 30 percent since 1970. This decline is primarily attributed to habitat loss in tropical regions, where biodiversity has declined by 60 percent.
- Natural resources are being consumed faster than the Earth is replenishing them. We are currently consuming the equivalent of 1.5 planets to support human activities. If current trends continue, by 2030 we will need the capacity of two planets to meet natural resource consumption needs and absorb CO2 waste.
- Humanity’s ecological footprint has doubled since 1966, largely because of the carbon footprint, which has increased 11-fold since 1961.
- The five major threats to biodiversity are habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation; over-exploitation of wild species populations; pollution; climate change; and invasive species.
- The impact of biodiversity loss extends beyond habitats and species. The Living Planet Report highlights implications for food production, water availability, climate stabilization and other natural resource uses.
- The report finds that many species have experienced significant population declines in recent years, including Atlantic bluefin tuna, peary caribou and whale sharks. One species, the white-rumped vulture, declined by more than 50 percent between 2000-2007, while the population of leatherback turtles fell 20 percent between 1989-2002.
- The Report outlines solutions to ensure Earth can sustain a global population projected to surpass nine billion by 2050. For example, companies can play an important role by producing and purchasing raw materials that are sustainably harvested.
