The World Organization for the Protection of Nature (WWF) warned today, on the International Day of Biodiversity, about the dramatic decline of biodiversity in the world and called for urgent concrete measures to be taken to stop this trend.
According to WWF's latest State of the Planet Report, populations of wild species have declined by an average of 69 percent since 1970.
The WWF reminds that half a year ago, the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity was adopted, which committed the world to stop and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030, along with warning data.
According to WWF's latest State of the Planet Report, wild species populations are down an average of 69 percent since 1970, while a little over ten years ago, WWF's State of the Planet Report showed species populations were down by about 30 percent. compared to 1970.
Today, it is particularly alarming for the population of freshwater species, which have decreased by 83 percent compared to 1970, the announcement stated.
WWF Adrija Communications Associate Aleksandra Ugarković emphasized that now, when a global agreement has been reached, urgent action is needed.
"We must not allow a repeat of the situation with the Paris Climate Agreement, which has been waiting for years to start its implementation. "The science is clear, the state of nature is seriously damaged, and decision makers must include nature protection as a priority as soon as possible," said Ugarković.
WWF pointed out that biodiversity is the web of life on earth.
As stated, 80 percent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional herbal medicines for basic health needs.
More than 70 percent of natural areas have been converted into arable areas.
At the global level, 40 percent of the food produced on those arable lands is thrown away, which shows that the network of life in that area was destroyed for nothing, WWF stated.
"Loss of biodiversity is a big threat for all of us - individually and at the level of countries. Special mention should be made of the business sector, which bears most of the blame and it is time to get involved in stopping the destruction of biological diversity. Together with the governments, they should secure funds that will ensure the full implementation of the Global Agreement and living in harmony with nature", added Ugarković and stated that WWF offers expertise and tools to help corporations.
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