Environmental Group: Wealth of Ecosystems Declined by Third Since 1970

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Oct 20, 2000 - 08:42 AM

Environmental Group: Wealth of Ecosystems Declined by Third Since 1970 The Associated Press

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The natural wealth of the world's ecosystems has declined by a third over the past 30 years, according to a World Wildlife Fund study published Friday. The Living Planet Report 2000 also showed that the area of land mass and ocean needed to produce natural resources for consumers and to absorb carbon dioxide pollution has doubled since 1961.

In its annual assessment of the earth's environment, the group blamed much of the damage on the rich northern countries at the expense of habitat in the tropical rain forests.

"Mankind cannot afford to keep drawing so heavily on the world's natural resources," said Professor Ruud Lubbers, the former Dutch prime minister, and the World Wildlife Fund's international president. "We have borrowed this planet from our children and our grandchildren."

The World Wildlife Fund said it measures the state of ecosystems based on the populations of species in the world's forests, fresh waters and oceans. It found that ecosystems had declined between 1970 and 1999 by 12 percent in the forests, 50 percent in fresh waters, and 35 percent in the oceans.

The study said the pressure of mankind on nature had increased by about 50 percent over the same period and had now gone beyond the planet's ability to regenerate.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAWANXUJEC.html

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), October 20, 2000


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