Nature in crisis: The current state of global nature loss

Nature loss across the world

1. North America
2. Latin America and the Caribbean
3. Europe and Central Asia
4. Africa
5. Asia and the Pacific

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What happens when species are lost?

When species populations fall below a certain level, it can cause ecosystems to weaken. This also undermines the benefits that ecosystems provide to people. For instance, food, clean water and regulating our climate. Take the Parrotfish for example. They graze on the algae and microbes on the surface of coral. This keeps the reef healthy as it gives coral space, light and nutrients to grow. However, when the parrotfish is overfished, its population declines. Then, the reef becomes overrun by algal growth, causing the corals to die. This causes a decline in the fish and invertebrate populations that depend on the corals. It also threatens the coastal communities that rely on the reefs for their food, livelihoods, and storm protection.

Species snapshots

Chinook salmon: 88% decline
Numbers of Sacramento winter-run Chinook salmon dropped 88% from 1970 to 2022, fluctuating from year to year. The migratory route for this endangered population has been impacted by dams, which block access to their historical spawning habitat. The salmon need cold water for spawning and for the survival of their young. But, they are now limited to a much smaller stretch of river, subject to low water levels and warm temperatures. Climate change is a major threat, and their survival now depends on the release of cold water from the upstream dams.
African forest elephant: 78-81% decline
Forest elephants are critically endangered. Almost half of this species in Central Africa are thought to live in Gabon. Between 2004 and 2014 there is strong evidence that poaching for the ivory trade, both from within Gabon and from Cameroon, caused a 78-81% decline in forest elephants in Minkébé National Park. Scientists consider a loss on this scale to be a considerable setback for the future of the species.
Amazon river dolphin: 65% decline
Between 1994 and 2016 in the Mamirauá reserve, the population of Amazon pink river dolphins (boto) declined by 65%. Here, the population of the smaller tucuxi declined by 75%. Dolphins are vulnerable to entanglement in fishing nets and are also hunted for fish bait. Recent research indicates the downward trend is continuing and climate change is a growing threat. In 2023 more than 330 river dolphins died in just two lakes during a period of extreme heat and drought.
Chinstrap penguin: 61% decline
The decline in chinstrap penguin across 94 colonies from 1980 to 2019 is thought to be linked to changes in sea ice and shortages of krill due to climate change and an increase in Antarctic krill fisheries. Krill are the penguins’ main food source. Warmer conditions with lower levels of sea-ice cover result in fewer krill. The penguins then spend more time foraging, which can increase the risk of breeding failure.
Hawksbill turtle: 57% decline
There was an alarming decline in the important nesting population of critically-endangered hawksbill turtles on Milman Island between 1990 – 2018. This is despite benefitting from the highest level of marine reserve protection within the Great Barrier Reef. The Hawksbill turtles are vulnerable to habitat loss, climate change, legal and illegal harvesting, as well as entanglement in fishing nets. Scientists suggest the north-eastern Australian population of this species could be locally extinct by 2036.
European Bison: Increase of 6,800 bison across 10 countries
Following this species' extinction in the wild in 1927, the species comeback (1950 - 2020) is due to large scale breeding, reintroductions and translocations (across ten countries in Europe). Most of the bison (91-100%) live in protected areas, and the species is protected throughout Europe.
Mountain Gorilla: 3% Increase
Dedicated management of protected areas, extensive engagement with local communities, close monitoring of habituated gorilla groups and veterinary interventions where needed are thought to have driven the increase within the Virunga Massif. While the overall growth shows what is possible in primate conservation, the mountain gorilla is the only great ape globally that is not in steep decline. This shows the urgent need for greater conservation of gorillas and other great apes.

What's driving nature loss?

Habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, invasive species, disease and climate change are the biggest threats to wildlife worldwide. The main drivers behind these threats are our food and energy systems, which need urgent transformation.

How can we reverse nature loss?