Newly published research in Science predicts that by 2070 almost half of Earth's land surface will experience increases in spatial overlap of human-wildlife populations. Growing human population densities will largely drive this change. The continents on which spatial overlap will increase the greatest are Africa (70.6%) and South America (66.5%). We might expect that growing human populations will result in erosion of wildlands and other wildlife habitats, overharvesting of wildlife, and increased disease--including zoonotic diseases.
I suggest this compels us to set aside tracts of land, with connecting movement corridors, to mitigate anticipated human population growth. E. O. Wilson's seminal book, Half Earth: Our Planet's Fight for Life, is a worthwhile read on the subject. Sustaining the planet's native biota (and the host of environmental services it provides) and stemming extinction rates are sure to become more challenging in the future.
The currency of wildlife is habitat.
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