Africa's Monitored Wildlife Populations Decline 80% Since 1970

A new report from the Living Planet Index, managed by the Zoological Society of London and the World Wide Fund for Nature, reveals that Africa's monitored wildlife populations have declined by an average of 80% since 1970. This decline is part of a global trend, with a 73% average decline worldwide. The report tracked monitored populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians between 1970 and 2022. Habitat destruction and degradation are the most frequently reported pressures on these populations, with other threats including overexploitation, climate change, pollution, disease, and invasive species. The findings come as governments prepare to assess progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to conserve at least 30% of the world's land, inland waters, and seas by 2030.