A Summary of Vitousek, Mooney, and Melillo’s “Human Domination of Earth’s Ecosystems”

            Environmental degradation only used to occur on a local scale, but with the onset of increasing globalization, the impact on the environment and biodiversity has reached an unprecedented level. In Vitousek, Mooney, and Melillo’s “Human Domination,” they give a brief overview to “the extent to which human activity has exerted a global impact on the Earth’s ecosystems.” The extent is enormous: over 50% of Earth’s land surface is transformed by humans, increases in CO2 in the atmosphere, half of the freshwater is already being used, 25% of bird species are going extinct, and many other consequences as a result of human influence. Humans modify their environment like every species, but the extent of which has grown significantly since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

            There is no place on Earth where mankind has left no imprint. Everywhere we go, and just the daily routines of our everyday lives, we see the impact man has had on the world. Land transformation is the most impactful of mankind’s alteration of Earth. We shape the terrain in order to foster practices of agriculture to feed ourselves, and divert waterways to construct buildings and houses, but in consequence, we destroy biodiversity by displacing native species from their natural habitats—the “primary driving force in the loss of biological diversity worldwide.” It is hard to quantify the effect man has on the land, but there is no arguing that there is an effect.

            Oceans are even harder to measure. With more than 60% of the human population situated near the coast, the environmental impact man has contributed to the oceans may result in dire circumstances for these populations. Wetlands, which act as filtering agents for larger waterways, are slowly disappearing and exacerbating the detrimental effects of natural ecosystems. The unsustainable practices of fishing top predators has dramatically altered the natural qualities of the ocean. The overexploitation of ocean fisheries as they fish near or at capacity can propel the life of the ocean into disrepair.

            What is even more troublesome is the alteration of the biogeochemical cycles on Earth. The mining and burning of fossil fuels has increased global temperatures dramatically and inexplicably affected climate since the industrial era. Coupled with the destruction of grasslands and the practice of deforestation, it is becoming harder to sequester the carbon in the atmosphere. Water is becoming more crucial as the amount of freshwater from aquifers is being slowing depleted as water tables are not able to recharge with rainwater. We create dams and reservoirs to harness a source of energy and divert water from their natural systems. Utilizing the power of nitrogen as fertilizer and the use of pesticides are only a number of other ways mankind has affected the world’s ecosystems.

            Extinction is inevitable; survival is the exception—and the current pace is inexcusable. The introduction and spread of invasive species has severely crippled the ecosystem for those species native and natural to the land. The consequences of our actions is not something we have to deal with eventually, it is something to deal with now. The ongoing change is accelerated by our actions. What Vitousek et al. suggests as solutions requires a sense of urgency: we must reduce the rate in which we alter the Earth, place an added effort to understand Earth’s ecosystems and its numerous components of global change, and place the onus on mankind in responsibly managing the planet. If we act now, humanity may still have a fighting chance.

Would it help to reduce the human impact on the Earth if we could reduce the human population?

Yes, reducing the human population will have a direct impact in reducing the human impact on Earth. With a lower population, basic necessities needed to survive will require a lower level of resources. With fewer mouths to feed, the more sustainable our food sources can become. At the current rate we have exhausted many of Earth’s resources that are unreplenishable. We are draining aquifers faster than rainwater can restore them, even mining the water deeper below. All in all, there has to be a human capacity to life on Earth (although there is no definite number), and it is better to be cautious than to unwillingly cross it to a point of no return. 

Works Cited

Peter M. Vitousek, Harold A. Mooney, and Jerry M. Melillo. “Human Domination of Earth's Ecosystems” Sources: Selections in Environmental Studies. Ed. Thomas Easton. United States, 2014. 45-52.