Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Humans and the natural environment form a linked system, in which both parts are interdependent and integrated into the growth of the other. As a result, any changes, such as excessive progress or unexpected disasters, will invariably affect the other aspects of the whole. Every day, the world around us changes a little bit in a variety of ways. Humans can have an unnoticed impact on the environment through their daily activities. An ecological footprint is an assessment of how much a person's life is influenced by the environment around them. This measurement can aid in determining one's impact on the planet. It's a useful tool for figuring out what a human does to alter the environment around them. The results of my ecological footprint analysis gave me a better understanding of how my daily actions might affect the planet I live in. As a result, the degree of complexity in these interactions predetermines the state and future of global ecology. However, the so-called human footprint's impact on the natural environment is currently negative, resulting in irreversible changes in biodiversity, land and water resources, and climate change.
First and foremost, it is critical to comprehend the origins of the phenomenon known as the human footprint. It is linked to several fundamental variables of human civilization's evolution, including technical advancement, population expansion, and urbanization. Over time, the best minds have devised a variety of facilities to improve human life and make a variety of ordinary chores easier. The introduction of various modes of transportation and cutting-edge technologies into daily life, as well as infrastructure and industry development, all contribute to human well-being. Furthermore, the Earth's population has doubled in the last five decades, a phenomenon never seen before the 1950s (United Nations Environment Program, 2012). Increased industrialization and urbanization were crucial in making these people feel at ease and providing them with the food and resources they required.
In comparison to a couple of my peers, I have the greatest environmental impact. In comparison to the rest of my class, I believe I alter the surroundings more than the usual individual. According to the ecological footprint quiz I took, my total footprint is approximately 28 acres. Based on the results, I believe that my activities of using a variety of services and the manner in which I travel are the most significant ways in which I affect the environment. Because I drive a lot and have a car that doesn't get good gas mileage, I have one of the highest percentages in the mobility category on the quiz. As a result, I produce more emissions that pollute the air. I wasn't shocked by my ecological footprint because I knew I had a significant impact on the ecosystem, but I didn't realize how much. In comparison to my peers, I realized we all had higher impacts on the environment than the average person.
The human footprint has a direct and indirect effect on the global ecosystem. Human activities are directly related to direct impacts on the natural environment. They include land transformation and built-environment expansion due to rapid urbanization, deforestation, and natural resource exhaustion due to industrial needs, as well as the construction of highways and trains to enhance international trade (Venter et al., 2016). Natural resources such as oil, natural gas, and charcoal were depleted as a result of attempting to meet primary economic requirements (Levis et al., 2012; United Nations Environment Program, 2012). Overuse of land for pastures and agriculture, as well as excessive urbanization and infrastructure development, has resulted in the modification of more than half of the land surface. People have an impact on 20 to 100 percent of ice-free areas in this way (Hooke, Martin-Duque, & Pedraza, 2012). In addition, around 75% of the surface is under direct or indirect human pressure (Venter et al., 2016).
In terms of the indirect impact of the human footprint on global ecology, it boils down to the long-term consequences of unsustainable natural resource extraction. Negative changes in biodiversity and climate change are two of the most serious repercussions of indirect influence on nature. The loss of animal species due to shipping, fishing, and poaching, water and air pollution, and land surface modification are all examples of biodiversity deformations (Gallandro & Aldridge, 2015). Furthermore, the extinction of plant species as a result of deforestation and pollution is another symptom of biodiversity loss (Levis et al., 2012). Finally, the consequences of transportation, excessive natural resource exploitation, and the expansion of industry and industries result in irreversible climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and the loss of clean air resources (United Nations Environment Program, 2012).
To summarize, there are two methods for determining the human footprint's impact on global ecology: direct and indirect. It is important to emphasize, however, that it is impossible to prevent both by continuing to use the natural environment unabatedly, as direct pressure is felt in the immediate term, whilst indirect consequences are felt over time. Nonetheless, by implementing proper and well-developed resource and environmental management measures, the calamity can be avoided.