International Day for Biological Diversity: key facts about the current state of Ukraine's ecosystems
According to the Living Planet Index, over the past 50 years (1970–2020), the average population size of wild species monitored has decreased by 73%. These data are based on the analysis of almost 35,000 population trends of 5,495 species of amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles. The largest decline was experienced by freshwater fish populations, decreasing by 8%, followed by terrestrial (69%) and marine (56%) populations.
In Ukraine, over the past century, the following species populations have been lost forever:
Large predators – an indicator of sustainable biodiversity
Large predators play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, as their presence is essential for the well-being of many other species, including humans. By helping to sustain the natural balance between autotrophs (the simplest organisms), herbivores, and predators, they ensure the stability and health of habitats. The interdependence of these groups underpins the overall viability of the ecosystem.
Photo: WWF
The reduction or loss of predators can trigger a "domino effect" within ecosystems. For example:
In Ukraine, there are also predators that require our attention and conservation—the brown bear and the Eurasian lynx. Once, these animals were widespread throughout the country's territory, but today, they are found only in the Carpathians and in Polissia. Even though the lynx have been protected by law for a long time, their numbers have not increased significantly due to illegal hunting and destruction of their habitat.
How does WWF-Ukraine use innovations to preserve biodiversity?
As a result of this collaboration, two significant studies from Ukraine have been published:
- Last
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- May, 02
-
- April, 30
-
- April, 05
-
- April, 01
-
News by day
4 of May 2026
