SAN FRANCISCO, California (22 Feb 2001) -- Researchers have released a new atlas based on the latest scientific data showing the destructive impact of human activity on the planet. The atlas includes graphics, maps and tables that detail human impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. Man has now altered over half the earth's surface and exterminated more than 1,000 plant and animal species. "Humanity is overreaching itself and threatening the key resources on which we depend," said Paul Harrison, one of the book's authors. | | The three primary human factors that impact the planet are population growth, consumption and technology. Combined, these factors produce the most powerful and destructive force on the planet, one that overwhelms ecosystems and diminishes biodiversity. According to the authors, humanity has become the major force of evolution forcing all other species to adapt to human pressures or become extinct. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK |
