In News:

• The WWF Living Planet Report 2024 highlights a drastic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations globally from 1970 to 2020.
• The report underscores the urgent need for biodiversity conservation to maintain ecological balance, food security, and human health.

Key Findings of the 2024 Report

Wildlife Population Decline

• 73% Decline in monitored wildlife populations over the past 50 years (1970-2020).
• Freshwater species: Declined by 85%, the most significant drop.
• Terrestrial species: Declined by 69%.
• Marine species: Declined by 56%.

Main Threats to Wildlife

• Habitat Loss: Primary driver, particularly due to the expansion of food systems.
• Overexploitation: Over-hunting, fishing, and resource extraction.
• Invasive Species: Non-native species disrupt local ecosystems.
• Pollution: Water, air, and soil contamination, especially in Asia-Pacific.
• Disease: Emerging diseases impacting wildlife populations.

Ecosystem Risks and Tipping Points

• Decline in wildlife signals risks of ecosystem tipping points.
• Critical ecosystems, like the Amazon and coral reefs, face potential irreversible damage.
• Impact on global food security and livelihoods due to ecosystem collapse.

India’s Wildlife Status

• Vulture populations in India remain critically endangered.
• Tiger populations have increased to 3,682 (2022).
• Snow leopards have been successfully monitored with 718 individuals recorded.

Case Study: Chennai’s Wetland Loss

• 85% reduction in Chennai’s wetlands due to urban expansion, exacerbating flood and drought risks.
• Initiatives like the Tamil Nadu Wetland Mission aim to restore these wetlands to improve ecosystem resilience.

Impacts of Wildlife Decline

• Ecosystem Imbalance
  • Disruption in predator-prey relationships, pollination, and nutrient cycles due to species decline.
  • Leads to ecosystem instability and potential collapse.
• Loss of Biodiversity
  • Reduced genetic diversity makes ecosystems less resilient to environmental changes.
  • Increases vulnerability to diseases, natural disasters, and climate change.
• Threats to Food Security
  • Pollinators like bees and insects are essential for crop yields.
  • Loss of pollinators threatens global food supply and agriculture.
• Human Health Implications
  • Healthy ecosystems regulate disease by controlling pest populations.
  • Declining biodiversity increases the risk of zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19.
• Economic Consequences
  • Agriculture, fisheries, and tourism industries depend on healthy ecosystems.
  • Decline in wildlife can lead to job losses and economic instability.
• Cultural and Social Impacts
  • Wildlife holds cultural, spiritual, and recreational value for societies worldwide.
  • Loss of iconic species diminishes cultural identities and opportunities for nature-based tourism.

Challenges in Biodiversity Conservation

• Inadequate National Actions
  • Despite global commitments (e.g., Global Biodiversity Framework, Paris Agreement, UN SDGs), national actions are insufficient to meet 2030 biodiversity targets.
  • Risk of crossing tipping points that could lead to irreversible ecosystem degradation.
• Key Drivers of Biodiversity Loss
  • Habitat Loss: Driven by agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development.
  • Climate Change: Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and altered precipitation patterns.
  • Overexploitation: Unsustainable hunting, fishing, logging, and resource extraction.
  • Pollution: Industrial, agricultural, and plastic pollution disrupt natural habitats.
  • Invasive Species: Non-native species outcompeting and threatening native populations.
  • Lack of Funding: Inadequate financial resources for effective conservation.
  • Weak Policy and Enforcement: Poorly implemented habitat protection laws.
  • Human-Wildlife Conflict: Increased interactions between expanding human populations and wildlife.
  • Genetic Diversity Loss: Reduced genetic diversity makes species vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes.
  • Awareness Gaps: Insufficient public awareness on the importance of biodiversity.

Conclusion and Way Forward

Policy and Action Recommendations

• Expand protected areas and restore ecosystems to halt biodiversity loss.
• Engage Indigenous communities in conservation and land management practices.
• Promote sustainable farming, reduce food waste, and encourage plant-based diets to lessen food production impacts.
• Shift to renewable energy and reduce fossil fuel use to mitigate climate change.
• Redirect investments from environmentally harmful sectors to nature-friendly industries.

WWF-India’s Call for Collective Action

• WWF-India advocates for collective action to align climate, conservation, and sustainable development policies.
• The goal is to ensure a resilient and thriving future for both biodiversity and human societies.

Overview

Recent research from the University of São Paulo reveals that climate change is poised to significantly disrupt the methane cycle in the Amazon rainforest, with potential global repercussions. Rising temperatures and increased flooding are impacting microbial activity in both floodplain and upland forest soils, leading to contrasting changes in methane dynamics.

Key Findings

• Methane Uptake Reduction: The study indicates that methane absorption in upland forest soils could decrease by as much as 70% in warmer, drier conditions. This reduction diminishes the forest's role as a methane sink.
• Floodplain Contributions: Floodplains, which cover over 800,000 square kilometers during the rainy season, contribute up to 29% of global wetland methane emissions. Here, methane-producing microbes thrive due to the breakdown of organic matter.

Understanding the Methane Cycle

• Definition: The methane cycle encompasses the processes that control the production, consumption, and release of methane (CH4) in the environment.
• Microbial Roles:
  • Methanogens produce methane, primarily in waterlogged conditions.
  • Methanotrophs consume methane, living in drier, oxygen-rich soils. These interactions are critical in regulating methane levels in the atmosphere.
• Sources and Sinks: While wetlands and other environments release methane, hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the troposphere act as a natural sink, helping to oxidize methane into carbon dioxide.

Climate Change Impacts on the Methane Cycle

• Imbalance of Sources and Sinks: As global temperatures rise, the release of methane from soils may increase, exacerbating climate change effects.
• Melting Clathrates: Methane clathrates, trapped in cold sediments, are at risk as warming causes them to release methane, further contributing to greenhouse gas concentrations.

Global Consequences of Methane Disruption

• Climate Change Amplifier: Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential 28 times greater than carbon dioxide over a century.
• Air Quality and Health: Increased methane emissions can lead to higher levels of tropospheric ozone, resulting in respiratory health issues and reduced air quality.
• Biodiversity Threats: The changes in methane dynamics can destabilize ecosystems, leading to shifts in species distributions and loss of biodiversity.

Balancing the Methane Cycle

To mitigate the impacts of methane emissions, various strategies can be employed:

1. Enhanced Landfill Design: Utilizing gas collection systems to capture methane for energy rather than allowing it to escape.
2. Livestock Management: Introducing feed additives to reduce methane emissions from ruminants.
3. Sustainable Agricultural Practices: Implementing techniques like alternative wetting and drying in rice cultivation to lower methane output.
4. Soil Health Improvements: Promoting organic fertilization and crop rotation to foster aerobic conditions in soils.

Research Insights

The study involved subjecting soil samples from floodplains and upland forests to elevated temperatures and varying humidity levels. Results indicated:

• Stable methane emissions in floodplains alongside an increase in methane-producing microbes.
• A significant decline in methane uptake in upland soils due to temperature sensitivity, with higher temperatures reducing microbial diversity.

Conclusion

The Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating global methane levels, and its response to climate change is vital for understanding future greenhouse gas emissions. As these ecosystems face increased pressure from rising temperatures and changing hydrological conditions, it becomes imperative to enhance our understanding and management of methane dynamics to mitigate broader climate impacts.