A PLANETARY HORROR STORY

Hello

It’s that time of year again, which means dressing up, sweet treats and celebrating all things spooky. Halloween is one of the few times we embrace the scary and turn fear into fun. But while we can switch off a horror movie or step out of a haunted house, there’s one real-world threat that doesn’t disappear so easily: the Climate Crisis.

ECOSYSTEMS ON THE EDGE

Earlier this month, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Zoological Society of London (ZSL) released the latest edition of their ‘Living Planet Report’ (LPR), a flagship study that measures the population sizes of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish across the globe. And if these results don’t frighten you, then nothing will…  

Amid the chilling details, one key stat stands out: wildlife populations have fallen by 73% in just 50 years. The report found that habitat degradation and loss, primarily driven by how we produce and consume food, is the top threat to biodiversity in each region, followed by overexploitation, invasive species, and disease. Climate change and pollution exacerbate these threats. The publication shows that as populations shrink, species can no longer fulfil their essential roles in their ecosystems, which weakens their resilience, threatens their overall function, and pushes us toward tipping points with “potentially catastrophic consequences”. These consequences include the mass die-off of coral reefs, the collapse of the Amazon rainforest, and rising sea levels from melting ice sheets – all of which will further disrupt ecosystems and communities worldwide.

The LPR makes it clear that we are falling drastically short of our global goals. The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) has come at a critical time, offering an invaluable opportunity for world leaders to unite and take urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. As the conference wraps up this week, stay tuned to our social media channels where we'll be sharing updates.

MARCH FOR CLEAN WATER

Another key finding from the Living Planet Report is that, among all regions experiencing wildlife population declines, freshwater ecosystems have been hit the hardest. Animals living in rivers and lakes, like the Amazon river dolphin pictured above, are experiencing an alarming 85% decline. And their ecosystems aren’t the only ones facing habitat loss and contamination – Britain’s waters are also in a critical state:

• 1,271 sewage dumps occur per day in England

• Fish deaths increased by 176% in 2023 

• Agricultural runoff accounts for 40% of damage to waterways

• 100% of England's rivers are polluted

• 10% of freshwater species face extinction

This is why thousands of passionate people will come together in London to protest the state of Britain's rivers and seas this Sunday, November 3rd. The March for Clean Water calls on the government to stop water pollution by reforming regulations to hold polluting industries accountable, enforcing existing laws, and ensuring all industries invest in long-term solutions like upgrading infrastructure, reducing waste, and supporting habitat restoration.

Our founder, Lewis Pugh, will join the march to stand in solidarity with those demanding change. Be sure to follow our coverage of the event!

MISUNDERSTOOD MONSTERS

Halloween may have us fearing things that go bump in the night – or splash in the water – but not all of them are monsters. Many of them are actually the ones under threat. 

Apex predators are a prime example. They don’t just dominate their environments – they shape them, and removing an apex predator can have profound knock-on effects on the entire ecosystem. 

Grizzly bears, sharks, polar bears, saltwater crocodiles, tigers, and lions are all top-level predators that have a significant impact on ecosystems. By managing prey populations, they help regulate smaller predator species along the food chain. 

This is well demonstrated by coral reef ecosystems: when sharks are taken out of the picture, larger predatory fish, like groupers, multiply and feed on the herbivores. With fewer herbivores to control macroalgae growth, algae expands and outcompetes coral, and ultimately threatens the survival of the reef system.

Sharks like the magnificent Great White play an essential role in maintaining the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, but are widely misunderstood and often feared for their rare attacks, rather than appreciated for the crucial roles they play. As the LPR report shows, they are now facing critical levels of decline. 

Instead of fearing apex predators, we should start fearing a world without them.

(To find out more about the decline of Great White sharks you can read this feature by South African shark expert Chris Fallows, who also took this incredible photograph.)

OCEAN BULLETIN

🐠 The Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, has established the largest Marine Protected Area network in Europe.

🐠 Over a year of astonishing ocean heat has given way to the largest coral bleaching on record.

🐠 UK appoints first nature envoy to lead global efforts on biodiversity crisis and put nature at the heart of foreign policy. 

🐠 COP16 confronts “huge” challenge of protecting 30% of world’s land and sea by 2030, warned a top facilitator of UN biodiversity talks.

🐠 African Penguin newly classified as ‘critically endangered’ as breeding pairs fall below 10,000.

THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT

Journeying down to the bottom of the ocean, bat stars (Patiria miniata) scavenge the seafloor. These opportunistic omnivores play an important role in the ecosystem, helping clean dead animals and algae from the seabed.

Image credits
Bleached coral reef © The Ocean Image Bank | Amazon river dolphin © Luiz Claudio Marigo | Great White shark © www.chrisfallows.com | Bat star © Tony Knight