According to a University of Michigan study, by 2070, humans and animals will be competing for more than half of the Earth's land. As the human population grows over the next 50 years, people will increasingly encroach on wild animal habitats. This increased overlap will be driven by humans settling in previously undeveloped areas, rather than climate change forcing animals to relocate.
It is expected that by 2070, the overlap of human and wild animal populations will increase by 57% of the Earth's land area. The study suggests that sharing these spaces could increase the likelihood of disease transmission, biodiversity loss,more animals being killed by humans, and increased consumption of crops by wild animals.
The study found that areas that currently have and are projected to have high human-wildlife overlap are concentrated in regions with high human population densities, including China and India. Another significant area of concern is forests,particularly in Africa and South America, where significant increases in overlap are projected in the future.
Researchers argue that such overlap of humans and animals will lead to more human-wildlife conflicts, but understanding where this is happening is critical to preventing problems.
While this overlap poses a threat of conflict, conserving biodiversity in these areas can also benefit humans living there.According to scientists, scavengers such as vultures or hyenas, for example, play an important role in waste removal in urban landscapes. They can reduce the prevalence of some human diseases such as rabies, anthrax, or bovine tuberculosis.Additionally, co-existence with birds can also have benefits, as they consume pests in agricultural areas that can destroy crops.
Researchers say that future conservation strategies will need to evolve, especially in regions that previously did not have large human settlements.
