[link to news.nationalgeographic.com]

Human "Footprint" Seen on 83 Percent of Earth's Land
Hillary Mayell
for National Geographic News
October 25, 2002

Scientists have produced the first map that traces human influence on the natural world, and the numbers are big. Overall, 83 percent of the total land surface and 98 percent of the areas where it is possible to grow the world's three main crops—rice, wheat, and maize—is directly influenced by human activities.

"Yes, humans have a huge influence on the Earth's ecosystems," said Eric Sanderson, a landscape ecologist with the Wildlife Conservation Society and one of the co-authors of the study.

------Question is...how much more can it take before this house of cards we built collapses ?

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