WWF Living Planet Report 2026

Why in News?

Recently, the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released the Living Planet Report 2026.

• Living Planet Index – It is a biodiversity indicator used to track changes in the relative abundance of monitored vertebrate populations over time.
• This report was produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

• Key Findings
  • The report identified a 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations worldwide between 1970 and 2022.
  • Conversely, India has documented population increases in several key wildlife species, such as tigers, Asiatic lions, and greater one-horned rhinoceroses.
  • The report underscores the severity of the global biodiversity crisis and emphasizes the critical role of sustained conservation initiatives.
• Major threats to wildlife
  • Habitat loss and ecosystem degradation.
  • Overexploitation of wildlife populations and natural resources.
  • Anthropogenic climate change.
  • Environmental pollution.
  • Introduction and spread of invasive alien species.
  • Emergence and transmission of wildlife diseases.
  • These pressures are interconnected with broader challenges in food production, energy infrastructure, and financial systems.
• Assessment of River Dolphins
  • The survey encompassed 8,507 kilometers across 28 rivers between 2021 and 2023.
  • A science-based estimate identified 6,324 Ganges river dolphins within the surveyed range.
  • These findings underscore the significance of monitoring freshwater biodiversity.
• Asia-Pacific regional findings
  • The Living Planet Report 2026 documented an average 49% decline in monitored vertebrate populations in Asia and the Pacific from 1970 to 2022.
  • The regional index comprised 4,664 monitored populations representing 787 species.

Reference

Down to Earth | WWF Living Planet Report 2026