title: Global terrestrial Human Footprint maps for 1993 and 2009.
abstract: Remotely-sensed and bottom-up survey information were compiled on eight variables measuring the direct and indirect human pressures on the environment globally in 1993 and 2009. This represents not only the most current information of its type, but also the first temporally-consistent set of Human Footprint maps. Data on human pressures were acquired or developed for: 1) built environments, 2) population density, 3) electric infrastructure, 4) crop lands, 5) pasture lands, 6) roads, 7) railways, and 8) navigable waterways. Pressures were then overlaid to create the standardized Human Footprint maps for all non-Antarctic land areas. A validation analysis using scored pressures from 3114×1 km(2) random sample plots revealed strong agreement with the Human Footprint maps. We anticipate that the Human Footprint maps will find a range of uses as proxies for human disturbance of natural systems. The updated maps should provide an increased understanding of the human pressures that drive macro-ecological patterns, as well as for tracking environmental change and informing conservation science and application.
authors.affiliation: Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2N 4Z9.|Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.|Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, Bronx, New York 10460, USA.
authors.forename: Eric W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Sanderson
authors.affiliation: Ecosystem Management, ETH Zurich, Zuerich 8092, Switzerland.|Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Avd. Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla 41092, Spain.
authors.forename: Ainhoa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magrach
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.|School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beher
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.|School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Kendall R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.|Imperial College London, Department of Life Sciences, Silwood Park, Ascot SL5 7PY, Berkshire, UK.
authors.forename: Hugh P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Possingham
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Laurance
authors.affiliation: Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, and College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, The City College of New York, New York 10007, USA.
authors.forename: Balázs M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.affiliation: Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964, USA.
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, Bronx, New York 10460, USA.|School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: James E M
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Watson