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141. One Earth: Change in Terrestrial Human Footprint Drives Continued Loss of Intact Ecosystems

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On September 18, 2020, One Earth journal published an article “Change in Terrestrial Human Footprint Drives Continued Loss of Intact Ecosystems” with an analysis showing that between 2000 and 2013, a land area of pristine nature approximately the size of Mexico became highly modified by human activities. The article also provides inter-comparable maps of the terrestrial human footprint and assessment of change in human pressure at global, biome, and ecoregional scales. 

The highlights of the article are as follows:

•  58% of terrestrial earth is under moderate or intense human pressure

•  1.9 million sq. km of intact land became highly modified between 2000 and 2013 

•  The most impacted were tropical grasslands and Southeast Asian forests

•   Greater efforts are urgently needed to retain the earth’s remaining intact ecosystem

The full article is available at:

Williams et al. 2020. Change in Terrestrial Human Footprint Drives Continued Loss of Intact Ecosystems  One Earth VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3, P371-382, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590332220304188

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki (Research Strategy Office)

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