Ecological Guidelines for Land Use and Management

Abstract

During the past few millennia, humans have emerged as the major force of change around the globe. The large environmental changes wrought by our actions include modification of the global climate system, reduction in stratospheric ozone, alteration of the earth’s biogeochemical cycles, changes in the distribution and abundance of biological resources, and decreasing water quantity and quality (Meyer and Turner 1994; IPCC 1996; Mahlman 1997; Vitousek et al. 1997). One of the most pervasive aspects of human-induced change involves the widespread transformation of land through efforts to provide food, shelter, and products for our use. Land transformation is perhaps the most profound result of human actions because it affects so many of the planet’s physical and biological systems (Kates et al. 1990). In fact, land-use changes directly impact the ability of the earth to continue providing the goods and services upon which humans depend.