Disappearing wildlife

The average size of monitored wildlife populations has fallen by a staggering 73 per cent between 1970 and 2020, according to the World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2024. This is based on population data from almost 5500 species of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The most rapid decline has occurred in regions known for their rich biodiversity, with wildlife populations in Latin America and the Caribbean suffering a catastrophic 95 per cent decline. Pakistan’s region, Asia and the Pacific, has suffered a 60 per cent decline in wildlife populations. Human activity appears to be the primary driver of much of this loss, with habitat degradation and loss, emerging as the most reported threat in each region. This is followed by overexploitation, invasive species and disease. Climate change and pollution are also key drivers of wildlife decline, with the latter playing an outsized role in Asia and the Pacific.

These are vital roles that allow ecosystems to function and, without them, humans risk losing the benefits that healthy ecosystems provide including food, clean water and carbon storage. Simply put, the immediate threats to the planet’s wildlife are basically long-term threats to human quality of life and even survival. Given the scale of wildlife loss, the world is now approaching key tipping points that may devastate many aspects of human life. For example, the mass die-off of coral reefs would destroy fisheries and storm protection for hundreds of millions of people living on the coasts and the continuous deforestation of the Amazon rainforest would release tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere and disrupt weather patterns around the globe. Although countries have signed international agreements, like the Convention on Biological Diversity, aimed at halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity, national biodiversity plans remain inadequate and lack the necessary institutional and financial support.

This is evident when we look at a country like Pakistan, where around 250 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in coastal areas and rivers and streams, polluting marine and freshwater ecosystems. A cursory look at how much plastic is strewn across our land and coasts is enough to determine that we are not taking the threat of all this pollution to biodiversity seriously. Then there is the uncontrolled expansion of housing developments and general urban sprawl which threatens both wild habitats and agricultural land. It is thus of little surprise that iconic national animals like the Snow Leopard and the Indus River Dolphin have been driven to the brink of extinction. In a country where much of the population has a hard time getting access to basic necessities, the well-being of animals is always prone to becoming a luxury concern. This is a misguided way of looking at things. Ultimately, the wanton destruction of natural ecosystems and unsustainable development make the planet a more dangerous place for all species, including human beings.