Malignant Land Use/Land Cover Malignant Land Use/Land Cover Expansion in Human CommunitiesExpansion in Human Communities

Warren M. HernWarren M. HernProfessor AdjunctProfessor Adjunct

Department of AnthropologyDepartment of AnthropologyUniversity of Colorado at BoulderUniversity of Colorado at Boulder

Presented at the 125Presented at the 125thth Anniversary Geological Anniversary Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver,

Colorado, 30 October 2013Colorado, 30 October 2013

Uncontrolled growth is a Uncontrolled growth is a principal feature of all human principal feature of all human

communities, and uncontrolled communities, and uncontrolled rapid growth is a principal rapid growth is a principal

feature of all modern human feature of all modern human communitiescommunities

The global human population has The global human population has more than quadrupled from the more than quadrupled from the beginning of the twentieth century beginning of the twentieth century to the present – from 1.6 billion to to the present – from 1.6 billion to more than 7 billion (US Census, more than 7 billion (US Census, 2012).2012).

The proportion of urban population, The proportion of urban population, which was 220 million (13%) in 1900, which was 220 million (13%) in 1900, has grown to 29% (732 million) in 1950 has grown to 29% (732 million) in 1950 and 49% (3.2 billion) in 2005. and 49% (3.2 billion) in 2005.

At this time, half the human population At this time, half the human population – over 3.5 billion people – live in cities– over 3.5 billion people – live in cities

By 2030, the 4.9 billion people living in By 2030, the 4.9 billion people living in urban agglomerations will represent urban agglomerations will represent 60% of the human population (UN, 60% of the human population (UN, 2005).2005).

Uncontrolled rapid growth of Uncontrolled rapid growth of modern citiesmodern cities

World urban growth rate from 1950 – World urban growth rate from 1950 – present ranges from 3 to 2% per yearpresent ranges from 3 to 2% per year

Many urban agglomerations have histories Many urban agglomerations have histories of annual growth of 5 – 13% per yearof annual growth of 5 – 13% per year

Declining rates of growth from 5% to 2%/ Declining rates of growth from 5% to 2%/ year (of a megalopolis) is still uncontrolled year (of a megalopolis) is still uncontrolled growth (2% of 15,000,000 is 300,000)growth (2% of 15,000,000 is 300,000)

Characteristics of Characteristics of Malignant ProcessMalignant Process

Four principal features of malignancy:Four principal features of malignancy:

• Rapid, uncontrolled growthRapid, uncontrolled growth• Invasion and destruction of adjacent Invasion and destruction of adjacent

normal (tissues, environments)normal (tissues, environments)• Metastasis (distant colonization)Metastasis (distant colonization)• De-differentiation (loss of De-differentiation (loss of

characteristic appearance at characteristic appearance at different scales)different scales)

Malignant characteristics of Malignant characteristics of human communitieshuman communities

Nearly all human communities Nearly all human communities display these characteristics and display these characteristics and have done so since the Neolithichave done so since the Neolithic

Cultural adaptations and Cultural adaptations and heterotrophic characteristics heterotrophic characteristics allow modern human communities allow modern human communities to grow and expand without limitsto grow and expand without limits

NeolithicNeolithic communitiescommunities

Community growth and urbanization Community growth and urbanization associated with agriculture and associated with agriculture and domestication of animals (especially domestication of animals (especially goats) resulted in intensive and extensive goats) resulted in intensive and extensive cultivation, extensive deforestation, cultivation, extensive deforestation, depletion of soils, soil erosion, salinization depletion of soils, soil erosion, salinization of irrigated lands, collapse and of irrigated lands, collapse and disappearance of communities in Levant disappearance of communities in Levant and other Mediterranean areas (Redman, and other Mediterranean areas (Redman, 1999; Whitmore, et al, 1990 )1999; Whitmore, et al, 1990 )

Classical Mediterranean and Pre-Classical Mediterranean and Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican Columbian Mesoamerican

communitiescommunities

Roman Empire depended on Roman Empire depended on exploitation of extensive exploitation of extensive agricultural resources from agricultural resources from around the Mediterranean for around the Mediterranean for maintenance under conditions of maintenance under conditions of declining productivity, among declining productivity, among other factors (Tainter, 1988)other factors (Tainter, 1988)

ruina montium in Las Médulas, Spain Photo by Justino Diez

From Land transformation by humans: A review Hooke, et al GSA Today 2012

Collapse of classic Maya Collapse of classic Maya communities and civilization communities and civilization resulted from combination of resulted from combination of population growth, population growth, agricultural intensification, agricultural intensification, resource depletion (Tainter, resource depletion (Tainter, 1988)1988)

Hohokam of Southern Arizona Hohokam of Southern Arizona (Redman, 1999)(Redman, 1999)

Settlements in the basin occupied by the Settlements in the basin occupied by the modern city of Phoenix from about A.D. 1 – modern city of Phoenix from about A.D. 1 – A.D. 1400.A.D. 1400.

Developed extensive, sophisticated, Developed extensive, sophisticated, sustainable irrigation networks from Salt sustainable irrigation networks from Salt & Gila Rivers& Gila Rivers

Intensive cultivation of corn, beans, Intensive cultivation of corn, beans, squash, agave supplemented by direct squash, agave supplemented by direct gathering, huntinggathering, hunting

Hohokam of Southern Arizona Hohokam of Southern Arizona (cont.)(cont.)

Development of satellite communities distant Development of satellite communities distant from main urbanizations for resource from main urbanizations for resource exploitationexploitation

Prolonged population growth, upper basin Prolonged population growth, upper basin deforestation, declining soil productivity, climate deforestation, declining soil productivity, climate variability combined with floodplain instabilityvariability combined with floodplain instability

Ecological degradation in spite of conservation Ecological degradation in spite of conservation measures by Hohokam; communities abandoned, measures by Hohokam; communities abandoned, population collapses and disperses by A.D. 1450population collapses and disperses by A.D. 1450

Modern cities and human Modern cities and human settlementssettlements

A principal characteristic of modern A principal characteristic of modern cities, especially new ones, is rapid cities, especially new ones, is rapid growth and extension into surrounding growth and extension into surrounding areas by invasion or distant colonization areas by invasion or distant colonization

New settlements and urbanizations begin New settlements and urbanizations begin by occupying previously undisturbed by occupying previously undisturbed ecosystems and gradually (or quickly) ecosystems and gradually (or quickly) replacing them with gardens, replacing them with gardens, deforestation, or structures. deforestation, or structures.

Fig. 1 Deforestation and feeder roads, Brazilian AmazonFig. 1 Deforestation and feeder roads, Brazilian Amazon

Fig. 2 Brazilian deforestation and incipient urbanization Fig. 2 Brazilian deforestation and incipient urbanization

Malignant growth in U.S. citiesMalignant growth in U.S. cities

The Washington-Baltimore The Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area expanded at the metropolitan area expanded at the rate of 22 square kilometers per rate of 22 square kilometers per year from 1973 through 1996 year from 1973 through 1996 (Figure 3)(Figure 3)

Figure 3 shows a pattern of Figure 3 shows a pattern of malignant growthmalignant growth

Fig 3. Baltimore simulated forest land cover showing 200 years of urban growth in yellowFig 3. Baltimore simulated forest land cover showing 200 years of urban growth in yellow

Growth of Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area Growth of Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area

1792 – 1992 (USGS)1792 – 1992 (USGS)

Malignant growth in U.S. cities Malignant growth in U.S. cities (cont.)(cont.)

Houston, Texas has expanded its Houston, Texas has expanded its area at the rate of up to 5% per year area at the rate of up to 5% per year since 1974 accompanied by since 1974 accompanied by population growth rates of up to 8% population growth rates of up to 8% per year (Fig. 4)per year (Fig. 4)

It is the only major CMSA in the It is the only major CMSA in the United States without zoning or land United States without zoning or land use restrictions use restrictions

Fig. 4 Houston urban growth 1974 (red) – 2002 (yellow)Fig. 4 Houston urban growth 1974 (red) – 2002 (yellow)

Malignant growth in U.S. cities Malignant growth in U.S. cities (cont.)(cont.)

Landscape dynamics of the Colorado Landscape dynamics of the Colorado Front Range 1900 – present (USGS, Front Range 1900 – present (USGS, 2008)2008)

The population of the Colorado Front The population of the Colorado Front Range has increased from 330,000 in Range has increased from 330,000 in 1900 to over 3.5 million and is projected 1900 to over 3.5 million and is projected to grow to a population of 5.8 million by to grow to a population of 5.8 million by 20302030

(Figs. 5 – 8)(Figs. 5 – 8)

Colorado Front Range 1937Colorado Front Range 1937

19571957

19771977

19971997

Malignant growth in U.S. cities Malignant growth in U.S. cities (cont.)(cont.)

Other examples of malignant Other examples of malignant growth in U.S. citiesgrowth in U.S. cities

Manhattan Island, c. 1500 ADManhattan Island, c. 1500 AD (artist’s conception, National Geographic Magazine)(artist’s conception, National Geographic Magazine)

From Hooke, et al Land Transformation by humans: A From Hooke, et al Land Transformation by humans: A reviewreview

GSA Today 22(12):4-10, 2012GSA Today 22(12):4-10, 2012

Manhattan Island, at presentManhattan Island, at present © Robert Clark/INSTITUTE for Artist Management© Robert Clark/INSTITUTE for Artist Management

From Hooke, et al Land Transformation by From Hooke, et al Land Transformation by humans: A review GSA Today 22(12):4-10, 2012humans: A review GSA Today 22(12):4-10, 2012

Fig. 9 Daytime view of Los Angeles from Hollywood Fig. 9 Daytime view of Los Angeles from Hollywood Photo: Thomas Pintaro

Fig. 10 Chicago Downtown aerial viewFig. 10 Chicago Downtown aerial view Photo: Siqbal, 2005Photo: Siqbal, 2005

FloridaFlorida

Over a period of 100 years, Over a period of 100 years, replacement of natural ecosystems replacement of natural ecosystems such as Everglade wetlands, such as Everglade wetlands, swamps, marshes, pine forests withswamps, marshes, pine forests with

Commercial agriculture to supply Commercial agriculture to supply urban populationsurban populations

Suburban residential developments Suburban residential developments Cities and urbanizations Cities and urbanizations

Fig. 11. Housing development in what was Fig. 11. Housing development in what was the Florida Everglades the Florida Everglades Photo: Barbara Fernandez for Photo: Barbara Fernandez for The New York Times Nov. 2, 2007The New York Times Nov. 2, 2007

Fig. 12. Predominant land cover classes for (left) the pre-Fig. 12. Predominant land cover classes for (left) the pre-1900s (natural) land cover scenario and (right) the 1900s (natural) land cover scenario and (right) the 1993 (near current) land cover/use From Marshall Jr., 1993 (near current) land cover/use From Marshall Jr., et al (2004) et al (2004)

Fig. 13 Central Puget Sound urban land use/land cover growth 1950-Fig. 13 Central Puget Sound urban land use/land cover growth 1950-20002000

M. Alberti Advances in Urban Ecology 2008M. Alberti Advances in Urban Ecology 2008

ChinaChina

Urban land area in the Beijing-Urban land area in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region expanded by Tianjin-Hebei region expanded by 71% between 1990 and 2000. (Tan, 71% between 1990 and 2000. (Tan, et al, 2005; Fig. 13) et al, 2005; Fig. 13)

Fig. 14. The urban land of Beijing expanded Fig. 14. The urban land of Beijing expanded dramatically through concentric expansion modes dramatically through concentric expansion modes identified by the Landsat TM digital image in Oct. identified by the Landsat TM digital image in Oct. 1984 (a) and the Landsat ETM digital images in 1984 (a) and the Landsat ETM digital images in Aug. 1999 (From Tan, et al, 2005)Aug. 1999 (From Tan, et al, 2005)

AfricaAfrica

Ilorin, Nigeria grew from pop. 107,000 in Ilorin, Nigeria grew from pop. 107,000 in 1950 to 771,000 in 2007 (UN, 2007) 1950 to 771,000 in 2007 (UN, 2007) with annual growth rates of from 5 – with annual growth rates of from 5 – 10%; LC/LU x 5 from 1972-1986 (Figs. 10%; LC/LU x 5 from 1972-1986 (Figs. 15 – 17) Zubair, 200815 – 17) Zubair, 2008

Lagos, Nigeria grew from pop. 305,000 in Lagos, Nigeria grew from pop. 305,000 in 1950 to 9,466,000 in 2007 with annual 1950 to 9,466,000 in 2007 with annual growth rates from 5 – 10% (UN, 2007)growth rates from 5 – 10% (UN, 2007)

Fig. 15 Ilorin, Nigeria, 1972 Land use/land coverFig. 15 Ilorin, Nigeria, 1972 Land use/land cover

LE G E N DN O C L A S SFA R M L A N DW A S TE LA N DB U ILT U P L A N DFO R E S T LA N DW A TE R B O D Y

N

LA N D U S E L A N D C O V E R M A P O F IL O R IN IN 1 9 7 2655000

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925000 925000

930000 930000

935000 935000

940000 940000

945000 945000

950000 950000

1000 000 000 0 1000 000 000 2000 000 000 Me te rs

Fig. 16 Ilorin, Nigeria, 1986 Land use/land coverFig. 16 Ilorin, Nigeria, 1986 Land use/land cover

LE G E N DN O C LA S SFAR M LAN DW AS TE LAN DB U ILT U P LAN DFO R E S T L AN DW ATE R B O D Y

800000000 0 800000000 160000000 0 M eter s

N

LA N D U S E L A N D C O V E R M A P O F IL O R IN IN 1 98 6

655000

655000

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665000

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675000

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690000

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925000 925000

930000 930000

935000 935000

940000 940000

945000 945000

950000 950000

London, 1800 – 1950 (from Johnson, 1972London, 1800 – 1950 (from Johnson, 1972

From Hooke, et al. Land transformation by From Hooke, et al. Land transformation by humans: A review. GSA Today 22(12):4-10 2012humans: A review. GSA Today 22(12):4-10 2012

Humans have Humans have directlydirectly modified more than 50% of all ice-free land area on the planet.

Hooke, et al. Land transformation by humans: Hooke, et al. Land transformation by humans: A review. GSA Today 22(12):4-10 2012A review. GSA Today 22(12):4-10 2012

Land use expansion for Land use expansion for modern cities includes modern cities includes destruction of ecosystems for destruction of ecosystems for energy from fossil fuels energy from fossil fuels (retroactive heterotrophicity) (retroactive heterotrophicity) that have origins up to 300 that have origins up to 300 myamya

Panorama of open-pit miningPanorama of open-pit mining

Garzweiler, GermanyGarzweiler, Germany

Open pit coal mine, WyomingOpen pit coal mine, Wyoming

Mountaintop removal, West Virginia, for coalMountaintop removal, West Virginia, for coalPhoto: Vivian Stockman, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, 2003Photo: Vivian Stockman, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, 2003

Human communities share Human communities share many characteristics of a many characteristics of a malignant process including malignant process including fractal dimension and fractal dimension and uncontrolled fractal growthuncontrolled fractal growth

Hern, W.M. (2008). Urban malignancy: Similarity in Hern, W.M. (2008). Urban malignancy: Similarity in the fractal dimension of urban morphology and the fractal dimension of urban morphology and malignant neoplasms. malignant neoplasms. International Journal of International Journal of Anthropology Anthropology 23(1-2): 1-19 23(1-2): 1-19

The human species is a rapacious, The human species is a rapacious, predatory, predatory, omniecophagic omniecophagic species species engaged in a global pattern of converting engaged in a global pattern of converting all available plant, animal, organic, and all available plant, animal, organic, and inorganic matter into either human inorganic matter into either human biomass or into adaptive adjuncts of biomass or into adaptive adjuncts of human biomass human biomass

Hern, 1990, Hern, 1990, Population & EnvironmentPopulation & Environment 12(1):9-3912(1):9-39

A new name for the human A new name for the human speciesspecies

I propose that the new scientific I propose that the new scientific name of the human species be name of the human species be

homo ecophagus homo ecophagus

(homo = man (L.); oikos = house, also (homo = man (L.); oikos = house, also the traditional root for "ecosystem" the traditional root for "ecosystem" (Gr.); phagos = glutton (Gr.))--"the (Gr.); phagos = glutton (Gr.))--"the man who devours the ecosystem." man who devours the ecosystem."

Hern, 1990, Hern, 1990, Population & EnvironmentPopulation & Environment 12(1):9-39 12(1):9-39

“ “The city devours the countryside” The city devours the countryside”

((Source: Source: Gruen, 1973) Gruen, 1973)

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

There is no evidence of control of the There is no evidence of control of the growth of human communities anywhere growth of human communities anywhere on the planet on the planet

Human communities display the principal Human communities display the principal and and sine qua nonsine qua non characteristic of characteristic of malignancy – rapid, uncontrolled growthmalignancy – rapid, uncontrolled growth

This malignant growth is fueled by This malignant growth is fueled by retroactive heterotrophicity – the use of retroactive heterotrophicity – the use of fossil fuels with energy from up to 300 fossil fuels with energy from up to 300 mya. mya.