Global Development Risk Assessment for natural habitat conversion

Originally published  by The Nature Conservancy

A first-of-its-kind global development risk assessment identifies the most at-risk regions worldwide for habitat conversion.

With the world population predicted to approach nine billion by 2050, global demand for energy, food, minerals and other resources is skyrocketing. The development required to meet these demands is likely to have significant impacts on our natural systems.

In fact, 20 percent of the world’s remaining natural lands could be developed by just the middle of this century.

This new study from The Nature Conservancy offers a glimpse at the impact our potential growth will have on the land we depend on worldwide — and advocates proactive land-use planning to avoid future conflict.

Armed with the knowledge of where development will occur, we have a chance to change the future by designing the landscapes that we want and need.

Author: James R. Oakleaf , Christina M. Kennedy, Sharon Baruch-Mordo, Paul C. West, James S. Gerber, Larissa Jarvis, Joseph Kiesecker

Publisher: PLOS ONE

Language: en

Year: 2015

Location(s): Global

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