Living Planet Report 2020 – UPSC Prelims

Released by: World Wildlife Fund.

It is published every two years since 1998.

It is based on the Living Planet Index and ecological footprint calculations.

There has been a reduction of 68% in the global wildlife population between 1970 and 2016.

75% of the Earth’s ice-free land surface has already been significantly altered, most of the oceans are polluted, and more than 85% of the area of wetlands has been lost during this period.

The most important direct driver of biodiversity loss has been land-use change, primarily the conversion of pristine habitats into agricultural systems.

The highest biodiversity loss due to land use change globally has been found in Europe and Central Asia at 57.9%, followed by North America at 52.5%, Latin America and Caribbean at 51.2%, Africa at 45.9% and Asia at 43%.

One of the most threatened biodiversity globally has been freshwater biodiversity.

The largest wildlife population loss has been in Latin America (94%)