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An increasingly large share of the planet’s biosphere has been modified in order to harvest, trade and consume as much food, fibre and fuel as possible. This is the gist of a new study published in Nature as part of the journal’s 150th anniversary collection. Photo: N. Ryrholm/Azote
 

Farming, forestry and fisheries are changing the anatomy of the biosphere. This makes us all more vulnerable to new types of global risks that will affect the long-term ability to provide food, fibres and fuel to a growing and wealthier human population. 

This is the gist of a new study published in Nature as part of the journal’s 150th anniversary collection, featuring a selection of articles that “reflect the past, present and future of Nature”.

The study notes that more than 75 per cent of the world’s land area has already been converted into domains like cities, farmland and timber-producing forests. In the oceans, around 90 per cent of fish-stocks are either overexploited or fully exploited while a rapidly growing aquaculture sector is taking up more coastal and offshore space than ever. Further reading at SRC:s web site.