A new study on the functional integrity of the biosphere has demonstrated the ability of plants to jointly regulate ecosystem health, showing that much of the Earth is in an unstable state.
According to AZERTAC, citing the journal One Earth, the research was carried out in cooperation with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and BOKU University in Vienna.
Scientists have found that vegetation requires sufficient energy to carry out vital processes such as photosynthesis, which maintains the flow of carbon, water, and nitrogen—necessary for ecosystem stability.
“Our demand for biomass continues to grow, so it is becoming even more important to quantify the pressure we are already exerting on the biosphere,” said Fabian Stenzel, lead author of the study.
The concept of planetary boundaries, which scientists now rely on, focuses specifically on the energy flows generated through photosynthesis. The impact of anthropogenic stress on the Earth system and on the natural productivity of plants used for human needs was studied using examples such as harvested crops, trees, and plant residues. The study also took into account the reduction in photosynthesis caused by land use and soil compaction. A second important metric was introduced — the “ecosystem stabilization risk index.” It reflects complex changes in vegetation structure and the balance of water, carbon, and nitrogen on the planet.
“These energy flows govern all life, yet humans are now disrupting nature’s dynamics by using a significant portion for their own purposes,” said Wolfgang Lucht, head of the Earth System Analysis group at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
The study used a global biosphere model simulating daily flows of water, carbon, and nitrogen since 1600. The data show that alarming ecosystem changes in the mid-latitudes were already observed in the 17th century, and by 1900, industrial areas had moved 37% of their land out of the local-risk zone and 14% into the full-risk zone. Today, these figures have risen to 60% and 38%, respectively, due to agriculture.
The study shows that the boundaries of the biosphere, which ensure planetary stability, have already been breached almost everywhere. This map is a scientific breakthrough, as it reveals some of the links between humanity’s resource demands and their impact on ecosystems,” said Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
Scientists warn that this data will serve as an important impetus for developing international climate policy. Protecting the biosphere and using biomass sustainably should be treated as a single, integrated challenge, alongside measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
