According to a joint study released today by the Zoological Society of London, in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund and the Global Footprint Network, animal populations are declining at historic rates since 1970 and - it's our fault
Tracking about 1,500 species, the report shows the devastating impact of humanity as species populations have plummeted by almost a third in the 35 years to 2005. Measured were populations of land, ocean and freshwater ecosystems.
Yikes to this:
ZSL scientist Jonathan Loh, editor of the report, said the severe decline was ‘completely unprecedented in terms of human history. You'd have to go back to the extinction of the dinosaurs to see a decline as rapid as this'.
While climate change is mentioned, it's only one piece of the puzzle in the declining wildlife populations. Destruction of natural habitat, overexploitation of species, pollution, and the spread of invasive species are, in addition to climate change, cited as the 5 key factors contributing to the decline.
One species that highlights the study’s findings is the Yangtze river dolphin. ZSL scientists announced the extinction of this freshwater mammal last year, as none have been sighted in a series of recent searches. The main reasons for its decline include collisions with boats, habitat loss and pollution – factors that all link to mankind.
The report recommends two ways that the wildlife decline could be combated, stopping the over-fishing of commercial fish species and avoiding the destruction of natural habitats.
Finally, they call out governments and their past pledges to make significant reductions in biodiversity losses by 2010, saying that global inaction has already made such a goal unattainable.
Jonathon Loh added: ‘It's very damning for the governments that are party to the convention that they are not able to meet the target they set for themselves. The talk doesn't get translated into action. We are failing, and the consequences will be devastating.’
This goes way beyond warnings in the past of the alarming decline of the oceans' fish populations. Just marine life population decline for the extensive list of news articles on various oceans and species.