• We live on a world that is not just a natural biome, but a product of human influence. The vast majority of our planet's surface has been shaped by our choices—from the cities we build to the crops we grow. In this sense, Earth can be seen as an artifact planet: a world transformed by human intelligence and ingenuity.

    This concept is not meant to be a term of judgment, but one of profound responsibility. It challenges the traditional view of humanity as separate from nature. Instead, it positions us as both the architects of our planet's transformation and the primary stewards responsible for its future.

    By recognizing Earth as an artifact planet, we embrace a new perspective:

    • The Interconnectedness of All Systems: We acknowledge that our "anthromes"—the human-transformed landscapes—are inextricably linked with the remaining natural biomes. The health of one directly impacts the other.

    • A Call to Guardianship: This concept makes it clear that we have a responsibility to care for the world we have fundamentally altered. We must move from being mere inhabitants to becoming active, compassionate guardians.

    • A Foundation for Hope: The idea that we have shaped our world so dramatically means we also have the power to reshape it for the better. The choices we make today—through science, art, and emotion—can create a future where our human-made world coexists in a more harmonious and mutually beneficial partnership with the natural world.

  • For much of human history, we lived in the Holocene, a geological epoch defined by a stable, warm climate that allowed human civilization to flourish. We adapted to our environment, but our impact on a planetary scale was limited.

    However, we've now entered a new and different epoch: the Anthropocene. This is the age of humanity, a time when our species' collective actions—for both good and bad—have become the dominant force shaping Earth's climate and ecosystems. The shift to the Anthropocene means we are no longer just living on the planet; we are fundamentally changing it.

    This transition has brought remarkable progress: global food production, advanced technologies, and a better quality of life for billions. These are the "good" results of our ingenuity. Yet, the "less good" has come with them: climate change, mass extinction, and widespread pollution.

    Recognizing our role in the Anthropocene isn't about guilt. It's about accepting a new responsibility. We have the power to create and to destroy. Our challenge now is to use that power consciously and collectively to steer our planet toward a more sustainable and resilient future.

  • Natural biomes are large-scale ecological areas on Earth that are defined by their climate, vegetation, and animal life, with little to no human influence. They are the traditional way of classifying Earth's ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra. These biomes are shaped by factors like temperature, rainfall, and soil composition.

    Anthromes, or anthropogenic biomes, are a newer way of classifying Earth's ecosystems that accounts for the significant, sustained impact of human activity. They are defined by the global patterns of human population density and land use, such as urban areas, croplands, and rangelands. Anthromes recognize that human systems have fundamentally altered most of the planet's ice-free land surface, making it necessary to view human-altered landscapes as a distinct type of biome. For example, a "natural" forest biome might be reclassified as a "forested anthrome" if it is heavily managed by humans for timber or other resources.

    At AwareNearth, we believe that understanding the fundamental link between healthy natural biomes and the well-being of our anthromes is a central pivot to our capacity to respond to existential threats. We can restore our planet by prioritizing the restoration of damaged natural biomes rather than systematically exploiting natural resources. We believe that we can gain inspiration from Indigenous Peoples who perceive nature and Mother Earth as a living entity to be respected, not just a resource to be exploited. This shift in perspective is key to fostering a harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world.