Annual Report 2001

15 UNEP/GRID-Arendal | Annual Report 2001 | | Section 2 | GRID-Arendal in review

Tracking man-made footprints in nature

municate the long-term impacts of the growth in human resource use in a manner that is understandable" , the UNEP Executive Director said in the foreword of the report.

In Rovaniemi we presented an analysis of the impact of human activity on the Arctic. The report highlighted that in comparison with most other areas of the world, the Arctic remains a well functioning ecosystem.

The Global Methodology for Mapping Human Impacts on the Biosphere (GLOBIO) gives a scientific overview of human impacts on the environment. As part of this project, we produced a report focusing on the Arctic. A separate web site, www.globio.info, explains the GLOBIO methodo- logy as developed in co-operation with different partners.

"Our greatest challenge today is to plan better for our common future. And one of our chief problems lies in communication and foresight. We simply need to clearly visualise and com-