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WWF Report: humanity in the direction of exchange needs

Oct 30, 2018

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We humans consume annually, 70 percent more resources than the earth can renew. The ecological balance is at stake. According to the WWF Living Planet Report, a change in direction is still possible.

The Living-Planet-Report 2018 by global environmental organisation World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) keeps us humans a mirror and describes to 148 pages of the current health state of the earth.

Accordingly, the holdings of over 16,000 investigated vertebrates have decreased in the last 40 years worldwide to 60 per cent. The biggest threats for loss of species, human activities, according to the Report. The habitats of wild animals are destroyed by the various interventions in nature, increasingly, through over-exploitation, diseases, environmental pollution and climate change.

“The science shows us the harsh reality that keep our forests, oceans and rivers for us. The shrink Animal and the decreasing number of intact habitats is an indicator of the enormous pressure we exert on the planet. We undermine the nature and diversity of species, which feeds us all,” says Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International at the presentation of the report in Gland, near Geneva.

The WWF-statistics on the increasing world population, increasing CO2 and methane emissions, global warming, the use of synthetic fertilizers, fish catch, and loss of tropical forests show a frightening picture. The hope for a trend not lost, was but “” says Ken Norris, Director of the Zoological Society of London. “We have the opportunity to develop a new way that allows us to live sustainably with wildlife together”.

Current consumption consumes of 1.7 earth

Nature provides us with all sorts of Good: among other things, with fresh air, clean water, fertile soils, food, energy and medicines. Only the consumption is growing and is now very much higher than our earth can tolerate.

According to the WWF report, all countries of the world consume natural resources in a degree corresponding to the regenerative capacity of 1.7 earth. The consequences are already noticeable:

“The nature of our societies and economies for centuries to maintain and does so even today. In return, we have taken nature for granted and against their increasing loss of traded,” says Lambertini and calls: “We urgently need to rethink how we use nature and appreciate – culturally, economically and politically.”

Industrialised countries demanded particularly

For the strong consumption of resources, the people, governments and companies are responsible. According to the WWF report, a change of direction is possible “if all the actors involved: governments, civil society, business, Finance, science, and every Individual as a consumer”.

A special responsibility to come to the industrial countries. There would be consumed by consuming above average a lot of resources, more than the people, “fair” exists.

Germany have in the global decline of biodiversity significantly proportion, says the WWF Germany. For the life style of the Germans would be like in South America, Africa or Asia, trees, and rivers polluted, it is made of die types. The conservation organization calls for EU-wide sustainability criteria for imported Agricultural and mineral raw materials, as well as an international forest Fund with at least 100 million Euro annual budget. From this Fund, projects worldwide in the forest conservation and reforestation could be supported.

Faster change of direction is needed

A lot of time for the reversal of the trend remains, according to WWF, “but it is doable.” This bold and consistent Action from all stakeholders, it is “required”. The time window for this is from the point of view of the WWF is clear: The world community has with 2020 a key year for the future of the earth. Then the achievement of the sustainability goals of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development (SDG), as well on the test bench, such as the climate agreement of Paris, and the Convention on biological diversity (CBD). All of the agreed objectives by 2030 would be achieved really, could succeed in a change of direction.

Animals suffer from pesticides

Where are the insects?

In industrial agriculture, there are fewer and fewer insects. Experts noted that the number of insects has decreased in the last 25 years in many German regions by up to 80 percent. The entire food chain out of kilter.
Animals suffer from pesticides

Silence in the nature

Locusts can make a lot of noise. Older people in particular, the noise is likely to be well-known. Today, it has become very quiet on the field. Many of the grasshoppers in the habitat because grasses and wild herbs can be eliminated with plant toxins.
Animals suffer from pesticides

Shrinking Habitat

If arable herbs no longer grow, lack of insect food, which in turn affects the field birds. Therefore, the stocks of the birds fell in the German agricultural landscape dramatically. Compared to the 1980s, the number of partridges fell, for example, over 90 per cent. In many regions there is no longer this field birds.
Animals suffer from pesticides

Long-term effects

Bats suffer a double-pesticides: there are fewer insects, and on the other the arable toxins concentrate in the fatty tissues of animals. In the Winter of this so-called memory is reduced fat, so that the pesticides released into the brain. The ability to communicate and the immune system can be disturbed.
Animals suffer from pesticides

Offspring disturbed

Arable poisons go with the rain into the waters. Also, as a result, the Ecosystem is severely disturbed. Toads in particular are suffering: From their fertilized eggs and the tadpoles hatch in the waters. By pesticides, their development is disrupted – the offspring is born with malformations or dies. In addition, toads due to their thin skin, the arable toxins easily.
Animals suffer from pesticides

More Defects

The Danish pig farmer Ib Pedersen documented with tens of thousands of pigs the ratio of the glyphosate in the soy feed and the Rate of malformations. He noted that a higher percentage of glyphosate in the feed, the number of malformed piglets is higher. This observation is also confirmed by studies.
Animals suffer from pesticides

Life without residue

Under the insecticide DDT, the bald eagle suffered especially. He is one of the largest birds of prey in Central Europe, and was almost exterminated. Since the 1970s the use of DDT in most of the industry is banned countries. The bald eagle has benefited from this – the Population is recovering again.

Author: Gero Rueter