The way we use land is becoming a major problem for
our planet. We are using too much of it for things like
farming and building cities, which means we're taking
away from the natural forests and ecosystems that help
keep our Earth healthy. This is causing the soil to become
bad, making it harder for plants and animals to live, and
making the weather worse. We can tackle this by using
land only when it is really necessary and fnding ways to
take care of the land we have. Deforestation is also
making the Earth too hot and causing more extreme
weather because it makes it harder for trees to soak up
carbon dioxide.
HOW WE TRANSFORM THE LANDSCAPE AND EXCEED THE
PLANETARY BOUNDARY
• Nitrogen and phosphorus fows to the
biosphere and oceans. Human activities have
greatly altered the biogeochemical cycles of
nitrogen and phosphorus, essential elements
for plant growth. Fertilizer production and use is
the primary factor contributing to this change.
Today,
human
activities
convert
more
atmospheric nitrogen into reactive forms than
all natural terrestrial processes combined. Much
of this new reactive nitrogen is released into the
atmosphere, instead of being taken up by crops.
When it rains, it can pollute waterways, coastal
zones, and accumulate in the terrestrial
biosphere, causing environmental problems.
• Atmospheric aerosol loading. An aerosol
boundary has been suggested for the
atmosphere because of the impact of
aerosols on the Earth's climate. Aerosols
interact with water vapor and play a signifcant
role in the water cycle by afecting cloud
formation and the patterns of air movement,
such as the monsoons in tropical areas. They
also directly afect the climate by altering how
much sunlight is refected or absorbed in the
atmosphere.