The 'World Wildlife Fund' released its Living Planet Report on October 30. The study tracked 16,704 populations of 4,005 species of vertebrates on Earth from 1970 to 2014. The WWF said the main factors in the global decline of the species are: overexploitation of wild populations and habitat destruction . "It is time for us to realize that a healthy and sustainable future for all is only possible on a planet where nature thrives and forests, oceans and rivers are teeming with biodiversity and life," said Marco Lambertini, WWF CEO. International.
The study also predicts that climate change will cause population declines in areas where humans have not directly caused habitat loss. Protecting forests, wetlands, and coastal areas to preserve wildlife can be beneficial. These types of ecosystems store carbon and prevent it from being released into the atmosphere.