In 40 years, the world's wildlife populations have generally declined by more than half -- while humanity's ecological footprint, rather its demands on the environment, are 50 percent more than what nature can bear.

Those are the two big take-aways from the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report 2014.

According to the newly-release findings, it would take 1.5 Earths to produce the resources necessary to support human civilization's current level of consumption.

For instance, explained a news release announcing the report, humans are cutting timber much more more quickly than trees regrow, pumping freshwater faster than groundwater restocks, and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere faster than nature can sequester it.

Taken altogether, the losses in biodiversity and unsustainable human demand on one hand point to the ruin of the planet's natural systems human well-being, but then again can also point the way to ways we, as stewards of the world, can encourage the reversal of current trends.

"Biodiversity is a crucial part of the systems that sustain life on Earth -- and the barometer of what we are doing to this planet, our only home. We urgently need bold global action in all sectors of society to build a more sustainable future," WWF International Director General Marco Lambertini said in a statement. "The findings of this year's Living Planet Report make it clearer than ever that there is no room for complacency. It is essential that we seize the opportunity - while we still can - to develop sustainably and create a future where people can live and prosper in harmony with nature,.

This year's Living Planet Report is the 10th edition of WWF's biennial primary publication.

With the theme, "Species and Spaces, People and Places," the report provides the data compiled on over 10,000 vertebrate species populations from 1970 to 2010 through the Living Planet Index -- a database maintained by the Zoological Society of London. The report's measure of human activity and ecological impact was provided by the Global Footprint Network.

The report asserts that populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have declined by 52 percent since 1970, while freshwater species have declined even further, by 76 percent decline -- an average loss that's nearly twice that of land and saltwater marine species.

The report said a majority of the losses are coming from tropical regions of the world, with Latin America suffering the most dramatic drops.

"The scale of biodiversity loss and damage to the very ecosystems that are essential to our existence is alarming," said Ken Norris, Director of Science at the Zoological Society of London. "This damage is not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to live. Although the report shows the situation is critical, there is still hope. Protecting nature needs focused conservation action, political will and support from industry."

The Living Planet Report 2014 highlights how effectively managed protected areas can support wildlife. In one example, Nepal is noted for increasing its tiger population.

The 10 countries with the largest per capita Ecological Footprints are: Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Belgium, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, United States of America, Bahrain and Sweden.

"Ecological overshoot is the defining challenge of the 21st century," said Mathis Wackernagel, President and Co-founder of Global Footprint Network. "Nearly three-quarters of the world's population lives in countries struggling with both ecological deficits and low incomes. Resource restraints demand that we focus on how to improve human welfare by a means other than sheer growth."