Are readers aware of the wildlife population being decreasing nationally? The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) recently published the Living Planet Report 2022. In this publication, they announced the wildlife population has declined 69% over the last 50 years. Let’s check out why this wildlife population decline is important, and how it is connected with us.

  A CBT reporter met WWF-Korea Marketing & Communication Team Leader, Hong Ji-yea, to get to know more about the WWF.  

1. Please introduce the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)? 

  You may have seen the panda logo of the WWF established in 1961. It is currently the world’s largest conservation of nature organization, actively present in more than 100 countries around the world. The goal of the WWF is to prevent the destruction of the natural environment of Earth and to enable the world to coexist peacefully with humans and nature. In addition, we are trying to enhance the awareness of citizens to reduce environmental pollution and wasting resources.

  Biodiversity is organically intertwined and breathes and functions naturally. Therefore, the decrease in biodiversity goes beyond disappearing animals and plants, to disrupting the balance of the ecosystem, causing problems in food, resources, fresh water, forests, and everything else. This could soon lead to a food crisis for humans.

  The report this year shows the decrease in biodiversity and climate change are not separate crises, but a double emergency. Through this report, I would like to disseminate the fact biodiversity is continuously decreased. Most serious scientists agree we are close to a tipping point. It’s going to be a situation where we can’t come back. Therefore, we are broadcasting the message we have to change urgently, desperately. Readers must remember if nature is destroyed, it will eventually lead to the question of human survival.

  In order to restore biodiversity, not only the efforts of institutions or organizations but individuals are required. The concept of all these efforts is ‘Nature-positive.’ It is to prevent natural loss and restore it, and to strengthen the resilience of Earth and society. This means international efforts promised and implemented by the government and civil society for global goals in the natural field. There is still time for Earth, but everyone must practice being Nature-positive. As Hong Ji-yea said, “Presently, it is not a situation where the condition naturally deteriorates and then improves later, but an irreversible catastrophe with far reaching implications.”