Over the past four decades, wildlife populations on Earth have declined by more than 30%, and some species by as much as 70%. The revealing data has prompted conservationists to label Earth as a “planet in crisis”.

It comes as no surprise that, according to studies conducted by the WWF,  the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network, wildlife is coming under increasing pressure the “ever-growing human demand for resources”. The reports were conducted during a time when the world is facing record over-consumption of natural resources, which will have grave consequences for the planet in the long run.

Freshwater creatures in the tropics have seen the worst declines, of around 70%, while tropical species as a whole have seen populations tumble by 60% since 1970. In Asia, tiger numbers have fallen 70% in just 30 years.

2.7bn people live in areas that suffer severe water shortages for at least one month of the year.

In the last four years alone, the “ecological footprint” of mankind has grown by 50% and continues to increase. Resources, particularly fresh water, are being exploited faster than they can be replenished. Basically, people are living like they have one and a half planets to sustain them, they don’t. If demand continues to grow at the current rate, by 2030 two planets would not be enough to sustain the planet’s inhabitants.

David Nussbaum, the WWF’-UK’s chief executive, pointed out that the underlying cause of the decline was the rate of human consumption.

“If you’re relying on your annual account and you overspend, you eat into your savings until there’s nothing left,” he said.

“At the moment we are in danger of doing that with our life support system, Planet Earth.”

Professor Tim Blackburn, of ZSL, reiterated the dire situation, saying: “We are living in a planet in crisis, and the Living Planet Index is one window into how bad that crisis is.”

[Source: SKY News, WWF-UK, Global Footprint Network]