Rescaling the Human Footprint: A tool for conservation planning at an ecoregional scale

摘要: Measuring and mapping human influence at the global scale suffers from problems of accuracy resolution. To evaluate magnitude this problem we mapped Human Footprint (HF) for Northern Appalachian/Acadian ecoregion a 90-m resolution using best available data on settlement, access, land use change, electrical power infrastructure. Such map measures transformation landscape, scaled between scores 0 100. Comparison with 1-km Global revealed similar spatial patterns influence. The correlation HF scores, however, declined size area compared, rank ecoregional ranging 0.67 100% 0.41 0.1% ecoregion. This indicates that rescaling to finer leads improvements increase as planning becomes smaller. reveals 46% has ≤ 20 (compared 59% in analysis) 34% had > 40 21% analysis). These results demonstrate benefit performing region-scale support conservation-based local scale. exercise also provides framework which model regionally plausible Future scenarios. other benefits producing regional-scale must be carefully weighed against costs involved, light region’s conservation needs. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.