Wildlife across the world is declining at a shocking rate. This year’s WWF Living Planet Report shows that the populations of wild species have plummeted by 73% between 1970 and 2022, and freshwater species are hit worst, dropping by 85%.

A similar UK based report – the Wildlife Trusts Report – shows a slightly different picture. The UK has had a 19% decline since 1970, but that’s not something to be too pleased about since the UK had already highly depleted it’s biodiversity before 1970 by centuries of habitat loss, unsustainable farming practices, development, and persecution. 133 species have gone completely extinct in the UK since the 1500s, and many are under threat today.

While the destruction of ecosystems is viewed by some as a problem for othe5 countries, and for all the wildlife – not a threat to us – the recent government paper on Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security makes the impacts to us all personally much clearer. Our lives at at risk – not just the usual cries about the pandas, tigers and orangutans.

What can we do? Change starts at home, and given the tragic biodiversity loss here in the UK, any projects we can undertake in our communities or even in our own back gardens, makes a small difference. Whether than be making wildlife gardens, nature corridors, cleaning our streams, or just completely stopping the use of pesticides. The Conservation Volunteers organisation have a list of 10 simple ways to make a difference on their website.