WWF: Average wildlife populations have fallen 73 per cent in 50 years

Stuart Stone
clock • 6 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

Living Planet Report details catastrophic human impact on wildlife numbers and warns next five years could determine future of life on Earth

Global wildlife populations suffered a catastrophic average decline of 73 per cent between 1970 and 2020, according to the latest edition of the Living Planet Index published today as part of WWF's biennial...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Stuart Stone
Author spotlight

Stuart Stone

View profile
More from Stuart Stone

'We all have a role to play': Major new study claims an equitable net zero transition is 'materially possible'

Environment Agency and Natural England reveal progress on planning timeline targets

More on Biodiversity

Locally sourced 'wool logs' help peatland restoration in Antrim hills
Biodiversity

Locally sourced 'wool logs' help peatland restoration in Antrim hills

The Ulster Farmers Union and Ulster Wildlife collaborate on an innovative wool restoration trial on Slievenanee Mountain

Mia Willemsen, Farmers Guardian
clock 04 June 2026 • 2 min read
Study: Offsite Biodiversity Net Gain projects could protect area the size of Greater London
Biodiversity

Study: Offsite Biodiversity Net Gain projects could protect area the size of Greater London

EXCLUSIVE: Offsite Biodiversity Net Gain market could protect more than 80,000 hectares of natural habitat by 2042, Nattergal analysis claims

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 01 June 2026 • 3 min read
How peatland restoration helped protect a Welsh farm from 'frightening' wildfires
Biodiversity

How peatland restoration helped protect a Welsh farm from 'frightening' wildfires

A farmer has spoken out on watching the land she calls home 'burn' and the restored peatland that has helped save it

Farmers Guardian
clock 29 May 2026 • 4 min read