Paradise Lost: The Global Death of Nature and the Wild
Truly untouched natural areas no longer exist.
The irreversible loss of global wilderness is a harrowing reality. In just over a century, we have stripped our planet of its once-diverse landscapes, ecosystems, and species, leaving behind a sterile shadow of the world that sustained life for millions of years. From the near extinction of wild mammals to the domination of land by human settlements and livestock, the world has undergone a catastrophic transformation with no reprieve in sight. This destruction threatens not only biodiversity but the very fabric of life on Earth as we know it, placing humanity on a reckless path toward environmental breakdown.
The Rapid Disappearance of Wilderness Since 1900
At the turn of the 20th century, humanity began to expand across the world at a rate never before seen. Driven by industrialization, population growth, and agricultural demands, vast tracts of wilderness were transformed to serve human needs. It’s staggering to consider that over 70% of Earth’s surface has been altered by human activity (even more when you count human activity in “protected wilderness” areas), compared to a mere 15% in 1900. This relentless conversion has whittled down wild spaces to the smallest margins, pushing ecosystems…
