Where Might We Find Ecologically Intact Communities?

Abstract

Conservation efforts should target the few remaining areas of the world that represent outstanding examples of ecological integrity and aim to restore ecological integrity to a much broader area of the world with intact habitat and minimal species loss while this is still possible. There have been many assessments of “intactness” in recent years but most of these use measures of anthropogenic impact at a site, rather than faunal intactness or ecological integrity. This paper makes the first assessment of faunal intactness for the global terrestrial land surface and assesses how many ecoregions have sites that could qualify as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs – sites contributing significantly to the global persistence of biodiversity) based on their outstanding ecological integrity (under KBA Criterion C). Three datasets are combined on species loss at sites to create a new spatially explicit map of numbers of species extirpated. Based on this map it is estimated that no more than 2.9% of the land surface can be considered to be faunally intact. Additionally, using habitat/density distribution data for 15 large mammals we also make an initial assessment of areas where mammal densities are reduced, showing a further decrease in surface area to 2.8% of the land surface that could be considered functionally intact. Only 11% of the functionally intact areas that were identified are included within existing protected areas, and only 4% within existing KBAs triggered by other criteria. Our findings show that the number of ecoregions that could qualify as Criterion C KBAs could potentially increase land area up to 20% if their faunal composition was restored with the reintroduction of 1–5 species. Hence, if all necessary requirements are met in order to reintroduce species and regain faunal integrity, this will increase ecological integrity across much of the area where human impacts are low (human footprint ≤4). Focusing restoration efforts in these areas could significantly increase the area of the planet with full ecological integrity.

An Analysis of the Potential for the Formation of ‘Nodes of Persisting Complexity’

“…This "loss of biological diversity is one of the most severe human-caused global environmental problems" [35], particularly with the advent of the 'Great Acceleration'. The short timescale on which these impacts have grown, along with their sheer scope and extent, has resulted in <3% of the world's land surface area remaining as 'fundamentally intact', i.e., with species diversity and habitats unaffected by human activity [36].…”

Exemplary Ethical Communities. A New Concept for a Livable Anthropocene

“…This goal is based on the finding that the areas of maximum cultural diversity often overlap with areas of maximum biodiversity [127,128]. The goal should thus be 'to restore ecological integrity to a much broader area of the world with intact habitat and minimal species loss while this is still possible' [129]. Recent research has found that faunally biodiverse areas have rapidly shrunk as a consequence of globalization and state intrusion, so that they are now estimated to cover less than 3% of global land surface [129].…”

Symbiosis and the Anthropocene

“…Studying natural ecosystems in light of how they might be negatively impacted by AC as an "external force" implicitly assumes that human activity can be decoupled from natural systems. In the Anthropocene, however, in which few ecosystems on Earth can be considered to be untouched by human agency (Plumptre et al 2021), this assumption may no longer be useful. We must pivot to viewing and understanding neobiota-novel community arrangements and humanaffected ecosystems-as the norm (Ellis et al 2010;Williams et al 2015).…”

“…We have no choice but to "face Gaia" (Latour 2017) and understand that we and the effects of our society are inextricably connected with all ecosystems on Earth today. Less than 3% of our Earth's ecosystems remain untouched by human influence (Williams et al 2015;Plumptre et al 2021) and whether we intend to or not, our choices have and will have profound impacts on the future of Earth's biomes, and through reciprocal feedbacks, our own species. The fact that we have agency (and responsibility) should empower us to take a more active role.…”