Op-Ed he other press science Matters willing Stewards of the Planet u may have heard the metaphor about humanity's ootprint’ on the earth. It’s often referred to as our “eco- gical footprint,” a term coined by University of British lumbia professor Bill Rees. He estimates that if every- e in the world lived like we do in North America, we ould need the resources of four or five more planets. cently, a group of scientists took this footprint idea d transferred it from an individual, to a global focus. t how much of the earth is now directly under the fluence of human beings? Their findings are startling. Published in the October ition of the scientific journal Bioscience, researchers om Columbia Wildlife onservation Society found that 83 percent of the earth's tal land area is under humanity's direct influence. That University and the number increases to 98 percent when they looked at arable land—areas where agriculture is possible. The researchers combined nine sets of data, including population density, road and waterway access, access to electrical power and the effects of land use, such as agri- culture and urbanization, and presented the results as a map of the earth. Visually, their findings show the obvi- ous—such as the concentration of human influence around cities. But they also show the less obvious—such as the influence of agriculture, road-building, logging, and oil and mineral extraction in less-populated areas. Compared with most of the world, Canada is still an oasis of wilderness. Our massive boreal forests shine like a green halo across the North. Parts of Russia, the Amazon, and the desert areas of Northern Africa and Australia also have large areas of true wilderness remain- ing. However, the vast majority of the world is now clear- ly dominated by humanity. Predictably, the human foot- print is heaviest in places such as Europe, India, parts of China, southern Ontario and the eastern United States. What can we do with this information? Well, as the researchers point out, one use is that it helps us pinpoint the wildest places on Earth. Some of these areas could be conserved now with a minimum of conflict. The maps also show us some areas that are still wild, but being rap- idly encroached upon by human activities. Many of these endangered areas contain high levels of biodiversity and are in dire need of protection. Footprint maps certainly have their limitations. For example, they do not show the actual impact of human activity per se. They take the average effect that, for example, building a road has on a particular ecosystem November 6, 2002 and assign that average to all the roads in that region. A number of other factors may influence the road’s actual impact on the environment that are not factored into the footprint. The footprint also does not measure the effect of longer-term, global phenomena such as climate change and pollution. However, just because footprint analyses are not perfect does not mean they aren't useful. As general indicators of humanity's influence on the environment, they can be valuable tools for conservation. They can help pinpoint areas of concern and areas for study. They can also help educate us about just how powerful we have become as a species. As the researchers point out, we are now stewards of the planet, whether we like it or not. We are so influ- ential that we cannot ignore the effects of our actions on the natural world around us—a world on which we depend for our survival and our quality of life. Human activities aren’t by necessity destructive. Right now, the way we use energy, many of our agricultural and forestry practices, and urban sprawl are taking their toll on nature, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Government policy changes and collective action by groups of people have shown that when we focus our efforts, we can over- come environmental challenges. The map of the global human footprint should thus be seen as a blueprint for change and not a recipe for disaster. Footprint map is available online at . To discuss this topic with others, visit the discussion forum at . ow Come I’m fot a Supermodel? Kerry Evans Culture Editor Back in high school there were the okay- looking girls, the ugly girls and the hot girls. There were also those few super-hot chicks but let’s pretend they don’t exist. Anyhow, I hung out with the hot girls. I knew I wasn’t a hot chick and I know that T am still not a hot chick, but it is only now that I realize how far off I am. And I’m annoyed, frankly. Though I am embarrassed to admit it, I read the Province and regularly pause on the Glam Girl page. I think every hot chick I was friends with back in high school has been featured as a Glam Girl. Their occupations are always something like model, playboy centerfold or super- hot chick. What the hell? Did I miss the boat? What water were they drinking? They make me feel like such an ugly, old hag. Before you jump to conclusions, my selfesteem is fine. Of course I wish my boobs were bigger, my hair was healthier and my complexion was clearer, but if I was really concerned, I'd do something about it. If you know me, you know I haven't. I’m okay, you're okay...we're okay. Okay back to me. So how come I’m not a supermodel? Why is it that my parents’ gene pool mixed together and made me just be an “okay chick?” GRRRR! To add insult to injury, I now have a child of my own. Yet another thing to alter my body's image. But guess what? I got burned again. The father of my kid and I somehow made a hot chick. She's only six, but you can tell she’s going to be a heartbreaker. Years from now, she’s going to be one of those chicks I am jealous of. What a vicious cir- cle. I have been superwoman in a previous issue of this paper, but not a supermodel. I wonder if I should just pretend that I am one, and then it will come true. I bet they live terrible, shallow lives anyhow. Men, money, fame...PFFFT! Who needs the stress of that? Being able to get what you want, whenever you want it, is highly overrated, in my opinion. It surely doesn't build character or instill morals. Please send your hate mail to me imme- diately. I am a jealous, bitter woman. Hear me roar!