http://www.newsweek.com/sobering-wwf-living-planet-report-shows-wildlife-decline-60-40-years-1192764

There has been a 60 percent drop in populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians over the last 40 years, a “sobering” report has revealed. Scientists with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found the biggest decline was seen in freshwater wildlife, which has experienced a fall of 83 percent since 1970. It also showed that 20 percent of the Amazon has disappeared in the last 50 years.

The WWF’s Living Planet Report is released every two years to provide a “comprehensive view” of the health of Earth. It uses data from the Living Planet Index—a tool that tracks trends of global wildlife, looking at 16,704 populations of 4,005 vertebrate species. In a statement, the charity said the latest analysis shows we are “pushing our planet to the brink” and are “taking an unprecedented toll on wildlife.”