How much wildlife is left

They are also a keystone species in many tropical forests, serving as "gardeners" by dispersing seeds and creating places where new plants can grow.

In order for such forests to survive and thrive, we need to ensure the survival of the primates who inhabit them. Often called the rainforests of the sea, coral reefs fill a diverse range of roles, from serving as a foundation for intricate food webs, to protecting coastlines.

Researchers also estimate coral reefs support as much as a quarter of all marine life, making them one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. The loss of coral reefs would imply the loss of countless marine species. The report also pointed to the overconsumption of Earth's natural resources as another key factor in species decline, saying one-third of all land mass has been dedicated to producing food.

However, it noted that some regions were more at risk than others. Read more: In Delhi, nature is pitted against development. The Eurasian beaver is an example of radical efforts to bring a species back from the brink of extinction paying off.

A study published on Thursday in the British science journal Nature alongside the report suggested that nothing short of radical conservation efforts could reverse the trend.

The study's authors said reduction in food waste and shifts toward more environmentally-friendly diets could help "bend the curve" of degradation over time, but efforts needed to be streamlined at a global level. Read more: An appetite for dried seahorse in China could spell the marine animal's demise. Visit the new DW website Take a look at the beta version of dw. Go to the new dw. More info OK. Wrong language? Change it here DW. The data has been used for modelling work to look at what might be needed to reverse the decline.

Research published in the journal Nature suggests that to turn the tide we must transform the way we produce and consume food, including reducing food waste and eating food with a lower environmental impact. Prof Dame Georgina Mace of UCL said conservation actions alone wouldn't be sufficient to "bend the curve on biodiversity loss".

Extinction data is compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN , which has evaluated more than , species of plants and animals, with more than 32, species threatened with extinction. In , an intergovernmental panel of scientists concluded that one million species , animals and plants, and , insects are threatened with extinction, some within decades.

The WWF report is one of many assessments of the state of nature being published in the coming weeks and months in the build-up to a major summit next year. The UN will reveal next Tuesday its latest assessment of the state of nature worldwide. Follow Helen on Twitter. Extinction 'existential threat to civilisation'. Humans 'threaten 1m species with extinction'. Image source, Getty Images. Wildlife is under pressure from habitat loss, including deforestation.

What do the numbers mean? Wandering albatross : Populations are declining rapidly, driven largely by accidental catches in long line fisheries. One monitored population on South Georgia fell by half between and Jaguar : The razing of forests in South America is driving the decline of this big cat, which prefers to live in dense jungle. Gharials : There are now just breeding adults of the fish-eating crocodile in the wild in India and Nepal, the result of rampant fishing, poaching and drops in river flow.

Chinese giant salamander : This creature is one of critically endangered amphibians, decimated by hunting for food, destruction of rivers and lakes and pollution. Hedgehog : This animal is among the fifth of UK mammals at high risk of extinction , with populations having fallen hugely in both urban and rural locations. Global trade introduces invasive species and disease, with amphibians decimated by a fungal disease thought to be spread by the pet trade. In the tropical savannah called cerrado, an area the size of Greater London is cleared every two months, said Barrett.

The UK itself has lost much of its wildlife, ranking th for biodiversity loss out of nations in Eating less meat is an essential part of reversing losses , he said. The Living Planet Index has been criticised as being too broad a measure of wildlife losses and smoothing over crucial details.