Pristine or Produced: Examining the Extent Mankind has Transformed the Planet
Date
2020-12
Authors
DeWulf, Crystal
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Martin, Michael
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Abstract
Most humans have emotional attachments to landscapes that they consider to be pristine, or untouched by man. These places are usually thought to be the worthiest of conservation efforts due to the fact that they are “untainted.” However, researchers are now realizing that such places rarely exist. Virtually every landscape on this planet has been altered in some shape or form by mankind. For example, the majority of the public would consider landscapes such as the Amazon and Congo rainforests to be pure wilderness. In reality, these locations and many others are largely overgrown gardens of past civilizations. By researching regions around the globe that are presumed to be pristine wilderness, I concluded that man has drastically transformed almost every landscape on this planet. I investigated topics such as native plant species, CO2 levels, agricultural practices and colonization to determine the level of alteration on each continent. I then chose three distinct and well-known landscapes to focus on, the Amazon Rainforest, Scottish Highlands and the African Savanna. Using my research, I created paintings of the current state of each landscape, as well as how each region would appear today if they had never been altered by humans.
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