THE LIVING PLANET INDEX: AN EARLY WARNING INDICATOR ON THE
HEALTH OF NATURE
The 2020 global Living Planet Index shows an average 68% decrease in monitored vertebrate species populations between 1970
and 2016.
68% decline
Using the data from 20,811 populations of 4,392 species, the 2020 global LPI shows an average 68% decline in monitored populations
between 1970 and 2016 (range: -73% to -62%). This year’s index includes 400 new species and 4,870 new populations. The representation of neotropical amphibians has increased the most as we try to fill data gaps for tropical species. Adding new data and taxa into the Living Planet Database, the
collection of population trends that are the key components of the LPI, helps to make the index a better reflection of trends in biodiversity. Adding these new data updates all of the annual LPI values and accounts for the differences seen between each version of the LPI (see technical supplement).
The 2020 global LPI runs from 1970 to 2016, starting at a value of 1 in 1970. This was set as a common starting year for many indicators because not enough earlier information is available; and it ends in 2016 to reflect the latest year for which there is a good amount of data and the time lag in collecting, processing and publishing it.
