Why is IHDP needed?
Human activities are having a measurable influence on many aspects of the Earth’s environment. Nearly 50% of the land surface has been transformed by direct human action, with significant consequences for biodiversity, soil structure and climate. More than half of the accessible freshwater is used directly or indirectly by humankind, and underground water resources are being depleted rapidly in many areas. The atmospheric concentrations of several important greenhouse gases have increased rapidly since industrialisation began, with potentially dramatic consequences for the Earth’s climate. Coastal and marine habitats are being altered at a rapid rate, while fisheries world-wide are being depleted. Scientists world-wide have been studying the causes and consequences of such changes, as well as the possible responses. It has become clear that understanding these global environmental changes needs coordinated contributions from natural scientists, such as ecologists, climatologists and oc
