World’s wilderness reduced by tenth in past two decades
Q. Close to ___ percent of wilderness has disappeared since the 1990s, according to Queensland researchers- Published on 14 Sep 16a. 12
b. 10
c. 14
d. 16
ANSWER: 10
World’s wilderness has been reduced by a tenth in the past 20 years, according to a study conducted by University of Queensland researchers in Australia.
- The findings highlight the need for international policies to recognise the value of the wilderness areas and address threats faced by them
- Scientists mapped wilderness areas in the world and compared the results with a 90s map
- Close to 1.3 million square miles or 3.3 million square km (around 10 percent) of wilderness has disappeared since the 1990s
- Amazon basin and central Africa have been hardest hit
- Comparison shows 30.1 million km2 or 20 percent of the world’s land area now remains in wilderness
- Major areas of wilderness are located in N. America, N. Asia, North Africa and Australia
- Comparison between the maps also showed 10 percent wilderness loss.
- Losses have been most in South America which has experienced a 30 percent decline in wilderness.
- Africa has experienced a 14 percent loss.
