Halting and reversing nature loss: what WWF is doing

For a conservation organization like WWF, the findings of the latest Living Planet Report make grim reading. Despite our best efforts over more than 60 years, wildlife numbers continue to decline at an alarming rate.

Halting and reversing the loss of nature is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces – and it needs to happen urgently.

The Living Planet Index tells us that, on average, the size of wildlife populations globally fell by 73% between 1970 and 2020. But while the overall trends are still going in the wrong direction, there are many conservation success stories showing that positive change is possible.

Take tigers. Back in 2010, wild tiger numbers had fallen to an all-time low of around 3,200. So the world’s 13 tiger range countries – supported by WWF and other conservation – set a global goal to double wild tiger numbers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar.

This ambitious effort included protecting, restoring and reconnecting habitats across tiger landscapes, tackling poaching and illegal trade, and working with communities living alongside tigers.

Since then, numbers have increased in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Russia. The latest population estimate from the Global Tiger Forum in 2023 gives a total population of 5,574 wild tigers – not quite a doubling in numbers, but a huge achievement that we’re determined to continue.

What’s more, protecting the ecosystems that tigers depend on also benefits countless other species.

Even in freshwater ecosystems – which have seen a shocking 85% decline in average population numbers – we can see signs of recovery, as in our work to conserve river dolphins.

The number of Indus river dolphins has doubled since the year 2000, although they remain critically endangered with only around 2,000 individuals left.

Similarly, after decades of decline, the number of Yangtze finless porpoises has increased by 23% over the last five years, to a (still precarious) total of 1,249.

These are extraordinary successes considering the pressures these rivers face. And just as protecting tiger habitats helps protect other species, improving the health of the rivers where dolphins live benefits all aquatic life – and millions of people.

Transforming conservation

But isolated successes and simply slowing the decline aren’t enough. To halt and reverse the loss of nature, the world needs to invest in conservation on an unprecedented scale. 

In 2022, after years of campaigning by WWF and others, nearly 200 countries signed up to a new Global Biodiversity Framework.

It includes a target to protect 30% of land, waters and the ocean by 2030, and a target to restore 30% of all degraded areas by the same date.

This is an incredible opportunity, and we’re supporting governments around the world to turn their commitments into action.

For example, as part of the Heritage Colombia initiative, we’ve secured US$245 million to ensure permanent protection of 32 million hectares of landscapes and marine areas in Colombia, which is home to 10% of Earth’s biodiversity.

We’ve helped establish vast marine protected areas, from the Galapagos Islands on the Equator to Antarctica. And, over the last 25 years, we’ve helped secure over 110 million hectares of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

For conservation to succeed in the long run, though, it must take account of the rights, needs and values of people.

That’s why, for example, we’re supporting Indigenous Peoples and local communities to continue safeguarding their lands and waters, which hold around 80% of our planet’s remaining biodiversity.

Transforming food and energy

We won’t be able to restore nature if we don’t also deal with the threats that are driving nature loss in the first place.

As the Living Planet Report 2024 outlines, this needs to include transforming our food and energy systems – the leading causes of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Our work on food ranges from supporting farmers to introduce nature-positive production practices that help to restore soils, habitats and biodiversity, to working with businesses to stop them buying ingredients that are linked with deforestation and habitat destruction and commit to sustainable supply chains.

We’re also working on reducing the amount of food that is lost or wasted, and promoting food choices that are good for the health of people and planet.

Supporting a rapid, fair and green energy transition from fossil fuels to clean renewables is another of our top priorities.

That involves lobbying governments, cities, businesses and financial institutions to adopt clean energy solutions.

But it also includes bringing renewable electricity to communities in Africa who lack access to modern energy.

As well as supporting sustainable development, this means people no longer have to rely on burning wood and charcoal, reducing pressure on forests and wildlife.

Transforming finance

Our economies depend on nature and its services, yet value them at close to zero.

round $7 trillion a year pour into activities that fuel the nature and climate crises.

Redirecting just a fraction of this money toward activities that work with nature rather than against it, would ensure a thriving planet for generations to come.

That's why we work on 'financing green' - mobilising finance for conservation and climate solutions, and 'greening finance' - aligning financial systems to deliver on global nature, climate and development goals.

We’re under no illusions about the scale of the challenges we face. But we believe that, together, it’s still possible to end the destruction of our natural world and build a future where people and nature can thrive together.

Read more of our success stories and find out how you can make a difference.