Risk of Human induced desertification

Submitted by francob12 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 10:27
Source

US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Survey Division, World Soil Resources

 

  • Orange and red show the areas where the risk of human induced desertification is higher. As it can be immediately seen, the most affected areas are along the equator line in Africa. Developing countries such as India and the Middle East and Eastern Europe are also thought to be affected.
  • This also goes together with natural deforestation and desertification.
  • Desertification and droughts are major causes of ecosystem losses and species mass migration or extinction.
Level
Image Type

Observed and Projected Arctic Ice Cap Loss

Submitted by francob12 on Tue, 07/17/2012 - 10:15
Source

NASA; IPCC

*/ /*-->*/
  • Since 1979 more than 20% of the Polar ice cap has melted away.
  • Satellite observations show a very dramatic and worrying trend with a melting of the Arctic ice cap of about 30%. If this trend followed, all the ice cap would probably melt by the end of this decade.
Level
Image Type

Report: Global Biodiversity Down 30 Percent in 40 Years

Stephanie Pappas

The world's biodiversity is down 30 percent since the 1970s, according to a new report, with tropical species taking the biggest hit. And if humanity continues as it has been, the picture could get bleaker.

In Mackerel's Plunder, Hints of Epic Fish Collapse

MORT ROSENBLUM and MAR CABRA

TALCAHUANO, Chile — Eric Pineda, a dock agent in this old port south of Santiago, peered deep into the Achernar’s hold at a measly 10 tons of jack mackerel — the catch after four days in waters once so rich they filled the 17-meter fishing boat in a few hours.

Subscribe to Biodiversity Protection