Populations of 695 representative terrestrial species are tracked to calculate the Terrestrial Living Planet Index. This index shows us the status of populations of terrestrial species in comparison to what it was in 1970.
If the total terrestrial species population in 1970 is taken as 100 units, then in 2003 only about 69 units were left. The terrestrial species index therefore shows a 31% decline from 1970 to 2003.
Terrestrial Living Planet Index
Temperate and tropical terrestrial living planet indices
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A more serious picture emerges if tropical and temperate species trends are viewed separately. Tropical species populations declined by about 55% while there is little overall change in Temperate species populations between 1970 and 2003. | |
Reason for loss: Conversion for agriculture
| Loss of tropical species populations is the main contributor to the drop in Terrestrial Living Planet index. The main reason for this is large scale conversion of natural habitat to cropland and pastures between 1950 and 1990. The fastest conversion rate has occurred in the Indomalayan biogeographic realm. |  |
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Learn more about these biomes
Worst hit biomes
Fastest fading since 1950: Tropical grasslands, flooded grasslands, and tropical dry forests.Reduced by 50% or more of their original habitat cover: Temperate, tropical and flooded grasslands, Mediterranean woodlands, temperate broadleaf forests, and tropical dry forests.