The International Geosphere-Biosphere programme.

Abstract

The global environment is currently undergoing change on scales which may' with the benefit of hindsight, be seen to exceed in speed most of those hitherto experienced during human occupance of the planet. Undoubtedly, some of these changes are natural, reflecting the age-old rhythms of the ecosphere as it makes its evolutionary journey through time. Some changes, however are undoubtedly anthropogemcally induced by the increased demands on fm1te resources which arise from growing population numbers and.the greater leverage which can be exerted on crucial points of environmental systems by industrial societies