Current Affairs - Environment - Discussion

The WWF Living Planet Report 2026 recorded an average 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations worldwide between 1970 and 2022. The findings are based on the Living Planet Index (LPI), compiled by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). This decline does not mean that 73% of all wild animals have disappeared; instead, it represents the average reduction in the abundance of the monitored populations. Freshwater ecosystems experienced the sharpest decline at 85%, followed by terrestrial ecosystems at 69% and marine ecosystems at 59%. Habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, climate change and invasive species are major drivers of wildlife population decline. The report also highlights successful conservation efforts involving species such as tigers, green turtles and bluefin tuna.