Human mobility has increased exponentially over the last century and a half, especially since the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. Those recent analyses show that the entire biomass movement of humanity today dwarfs that of terrestrial wild land mammals, birds, and arthropods all together. This is a monumental change in relations between people and the natural world. These findings bring to light how human mobility has exploded, and what that means for wildlife.
Per capita, that’s an average of 30 kilometers a day per person, all on different forms of transportation. This distance is just over three times the annual migration of wild birds. Wild terrestrial mammals (excluding bats) average only 4 kilometers per day. Wolves travel unimpeded throughout the immense Mongolian steppes. They can surpass the 7,000 km mark in a single year, showcasing the extraordinary variation in migratory behavior between taxa.
The new studies emphasize that human biomass movement is 40 times greater than that of all wild terrestrial animals combined. To calculate this metric, begin by multiplying the average biomass of a species. Second, multiply that amount by the species’ round-trip distance traveled in a year. In short, this massive onslaught of human activity casts doubt on our commitment to environmental sustainability and wildlife conservation.
Human Biomass Movement Statistics
In recent assessments, it was found that human biomass movement by airplane is ten times greater than that of all flying wildlife. Only about 7% of human biomass movement is on foot, and 65% by car or motorbike. Air travel accounts for about 10%. Trains account for 5% of this, with walking or biking accounting for the other 20%.
The numbers highlight a shocking difference in priorities between humans’ ability to move compared to the movement of wildlife. Humans are gods in the domains of mobility and energy consumption. At the same time, other animal populations face overwhelming restrictions on where they are free to move and survive.
“Since the Industrial Revolution, human biomass movement has soared by 4,000%, while that of marine animals has dropped by about 60%.” – Dr. Yuval Rosenberg
Even more alarming is the loss of wildlife biomass. Ever since 1850, both wild land and marine mammals have experienced a catastrophic loss. Their combined biomass has cratered by almost 70%, falling from about 200 million tons to just about 60 million tons. In reality, the human biomass has exploded by around 700% over that same time period. In addition, domesticated animals have grown in biomass by 400% since 1850, to about 1.1 billion tons.
The Decline of Wildlife Biomass
The dramatic shifts in both human and animal biomass raise critical questions about ecological balance and the health of the planet’s ecosystems. This research paints a grim picture of how, as we humans grow and prosper, many of the species that share our planet are running out of time.
As these trends are expected to continue, the findings pose important implications for conservation efforts globally. Yet humans are getting more mobile, consuming more energy per capita than ever. This new wave only further compounds the challenge of repairing the harm done to wildlife habitats. The studies indicate an urgent need for proactive steps to address and avoid these impacts.
“The most striking finding is the collapse of marine mammals, whose biomass today is only about 30% of what it was in 1850. These populations were severely harmed by industrial hunting, mainly in the mid-20th century.” – Milo says.
Milo notes the difficulty in reversing the damage done to nature:
Implications for Conservation Efforts
Rosenberg warns that the global decline in animal movement serves as a warning sign for humanity:
The study underscores that species have the power to recover if we make swift enough moves to save them now. To ensure their long-term survival, we should not hunt populations that are already struggling to survive.
“The new study reveals the extent of humanity’s dominance over wildlife, and how difficult it is to undo the damage we inflict on nature.” – Milo says.
Additionally, Rosenberg warns that the global decline in animal movement serves as a warning sign for humanity:
“The global decline in animal movement is a warning sign to us all.” – Dr. Yuval Rosenberg.
The research emphasizes that while certain species can recover if timely action is taken, it remains vital to avoid hunting vulnerable populations in order to ensure their survival.