One Earth
ArticleChange in Terrestrial Human Footprint Drives Continued Loss of Intact Ecosystems
Science for Society
Humans have influenced the terrestrial biosphere for millennia, converting much of Earth's surface to anthropogenic land uses. Nevertheless, there are still some ecosystems that remain free from significant direct human pressure (and as such, considered “intact”), thereby providing crucial habitats for imperilled species and maintaining the ecosystem processes that underpin planetary life-support systems. Our analyses show that, between 2000 and 2013, 1.9 million km2—an area approximately the size of Mexico—of land relatively free of human disturbance became highly modified. This loss has profound implications for the biodiversity that require intact land for their continued survival and for people who rely on the services that intact ecosystems provide. Our results showcase the urgent need to safeguard Earth's last intact ecosystems and suggest that greater efforts are needed to ameliorate human pressures.
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