Global vertebrate populations dropped 73 percent since 1970 report finds

Monitored populations of thousands of vertebrate species across the world fell by an average of 73 percent between 1970 and 2022, Mother Jones reported. The Living Planet report was released by the non-profit organisations World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London. The report covers vertebrate species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. [1]

The findings show widespread declines across global ecosystems over a half-century tracking period. Mother Jones reported that despite the overall downward trajectory, specific conservation measures across dozens of countries successfully restored certain wildlife populations. Global green sea turtle numbers grew significantly following these dedicated interventions. [1]

Human activity during the current geological epoch drives an ongoing biodiversity loss known as the Holocene extinction, which affects diverse families of plants and animals across both terrestrial and marine environments. [2]