Global wildlife population declines by nearly three-quarters in half a century

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nature is in “free fall” as a result of human activity, with global wildlife populations falling by nearly three quarters in 50 years, conservationists warn. open image in gallery The Amazon’s pink river dolphin has seen significant declines in populations, the report warns The Living Planet Index, which draws on data from 35,000 population trends and 5,495 species shows Latin America and the Caribbean have seen the fastest declines in wildlife, with average wildlife populations drop 95 per cent in 50 years. open image in gallery The report highlights some conservation successes such as the return of European bison It calls for more, and more effective, protected areas, for moves to support the rights of indigenous and local communities caring for their land, and “nature based solutions” such as agroforestry – integrating trees into farming – and restoring mangroves to cut emissions, boost nature and help people. open image in gallery More sustainable farming practices such as agroforestry are needed, the report says And WWF UK’s chief executive Tanya Steele warned that Britons were “inadvertently driving deforestation and nature loss through what we eat and through what we buy” in products imported from abroad.