Articles | Volume 18, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-2179-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-2179-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Data description article
| 
02 Apr 2026
Data description article |
| 02 Apr 2026
| 02 Apr 2026
Australia's terrestrial industrial footprint and ecological intactness
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
Scott Atkinson
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
United Nations Development Program, New York, NY, United States
Milton Aurelio Uba de Andrade Junior
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
Rachel Fletcher
The Wilderness Society, GIS, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Peter Owen
The Wilderness Society (South Australia) Inc., 111 Franklin Street, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Lucia Morales-Barquero
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
Bora Aska
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
Miguel Arias-Patino
Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9, Canada
Hedley S. Grantham
Center for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Bush Heritage Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hugh Possingham
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
Oscar Venter
Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9, Canada
Michelle Ward
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
James E. M. Watson
Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The School of the Environment, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
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Short summary
We developed two datasets representing human industrial pressures and ecological intactness across Australia´s landscapes. These datasets fill a long-standing gap in national-scale pressure mapping, providing key insights into human disturbance of the environment. They can support conservation planning, environmental policy, and restoration efforts, aligning with Australia’s Strategy for Nature and global biodiversity targets to protect intact ecosystems and promote sustainable development.
We developed two datasets representing human industrial pressures and ecological intactness...
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