Why in News?

Living Planet Report 2020 WWF, published Friday, analyzed nearly 21,000 populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles and found a 68 per cent drop in monitored animal species from 1970 to 2016.

Details of Living Planet Report 2020 WWF

• The new report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) shows the global wildlife population has fallen by two-thirds in less than 50 years.
• The 2020 global Living Planet Index shows an average 68% fall in monitored vertebrate species populations between 1970 and 2016.
  • The 94% decline in the LPI for the tropical sub regions of the Americas is the largest fall observed in any region.
• There are a number of general factors leading to the decline of wildlife :
  • Human activities and the loss of habitat are some of the report’s main concerns
  • Particularly the conversion of native habitats such as forests, grasslands, and mangroves into agricultural systems.
  • Humans are now overusing the Earth’s bio-capacity by at least 56%.
• Five major reasons behind the biodiversity loss
  • Changes in land and sea use (habitat loss and degradation)
  • Over exploitation of species
  • Invasive species and disease
  • Pollution
  • Climate change
• Where India losing?
  • India has lost 12 per cent of its wild mammals, 19 per cent amphibians and 3 per cent birds over last five decades.
  • The declining vertebrate population trend in India. 
    • Out of about 1.02 lakh animal species, as found in India till December 2019, about 6,800 are vertebrates.
    • Among these, nearly 550 fall in critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable categories.
    • Vertebrate population has been declining at a rate of about 60 per cent in India
  • Living Planet Index indicated India’s ecological footprint per person to be less than 1.6 global hectares (gha) / person.
    • Read this inline with the report of National Footprints Accounts India has a bio-capacity of approximately 0.45 gha per person
  • Asia Pacific region including India, habitat loss was the biggest trigger followed by species over exploitation and invasive species and disease.
    • Indian belladonna, possessing medicinal properties to the related deadly nightshade, is threatened by deforestation and over harvesting of its leaves and roots for use by the pharmaceutical industry and in traditional medicine systems
  • The role of pollution and climate change was proportionately higher at 16 per cent.
  • Almost a third of Indian wetlands have been affected under combined pressure of urbanisation, agricultural activities and pollution.
  • What may be the reason?
    • Around 16 per cent global population.
    • The need for food and other infrastructure for such a large populous country which in turn is affecting the biodiversity.
    • Habitat fragmentation and pollution, especially from pesticides and insecticides, are playing havoc with the biodiversity status of the country.
    • About 43 per cent of forest land recommended for diversion in 2019 falls in ecologically sensitive wildlife habitats.

Way Forward

The biggest challenge and biggest opportunity lies in changing our approach to development

• Conserving the world’s biological diversity
• Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
• Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

Source : LPR 2020

Topic

Prelims : About Living Planet Report

GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Current Affairs Compilation : 14 September 2020