Originally posted on 15 May 2017, by Jeff Wells on the Huffington Post
In the midst of a steady stream of grim reports about the environment, a new study offers a welcome ray of hope. Researchers have determined that there are still hundreds of regions around the globe healthy enough to help maintain clean air and water, support rich animal and plant life and slow climate change. If we act fast, we can preserve the natural systems we all depend upon.
But we have to think big.
The study, released in BioScience (and co-authored by Harvey Locke), looked at what it takes to maintain clean air, safe water, vibrant biodiversity and other values that keep us humans alive and well. It concluded that we need to protect at least half of a regional landscape to have the best chance of ensuring it can still nurture plants, animals and human life.
The study examined 846 eco-regions around the world and found that one-quarter have been eaten away by development and pollution and have just an average of four per cent of their natural habitat left. But the good news is more than 300 ecoregions still have enough unaltered landscape to meet the 50 per cent threshold for necessary protection and long-lasting vitality.
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