De Vector

Nature recovery works, but far from everywhere

A new WWF report cites the recovery of tigers, bluefin tuna and sea turtles as evidence that targeted protection can deliver results.

There are demonstrable examples of nature recovery, despite the global decline in wildlife. The Living Planet Report 2026 identifies long-term protection, management and cooperation as factors behind the recovery of several species.

The report by WWF and the Zoological Society of London analyses 35,803 population trends across 5,790 vertebrate species. Between 1970 and 2022, the average size of the populations studied fell by 73 per cent. That figure does not mean that 73 per cent of all wildlife has disappeared, but that the measured population sizes in the index declined by that amount on average.

At the same time, the report describes species whose fortunes have been reversed. According to WWF, the number of wild tigers rose from about 3,200 in 2010 to about 5,700 in 2025, an increase of more than 70 per cent. The organisation says international cooperation and habitat protection were important factors.

WWF also sees progress for bluefin tuna and green sea turtles. Stricter fisheries management, monitoring and the protection of breeding grounds have helped local populations. The precise development varies by region and species; recovery in one place does not mean that the global population is healthy everywhere.

The report also mentions elephant populations in parts of southern Africa that are remaining stable or growing. According to WWF, local management plays a role there, with communities involved in the use and protection of land. Such examples show that nature policy is not only about bans, but also about long-term cooperation and funding.

According to the researchers, the positive examples should not be read as evidence that the crisis is over. Habitat loss, overexploitation, climate change, pollution and invasive species continue to exert pressure. The global index instead shows that many populations are still declining.

The value of the report therefore lies in its dual picture. The measurement is serious, but the cases of recovery make clear which measures can have an effect. These involve years or decades of protection, not quick fixes.

For policymakers and businesses, the lesson is that nature recovery can produce measurable results, but only when objectives, monitoring and funding are long-term. The report offers no guarantee that every species will recover. It does, however, provide concrete examples of policies that work under certain circumstances.

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