1. While Lake Chads surface area fluctuates considerably with the seasonal rains, these dry-season images of Lake Chad show the long-term trend since the 1960s Changes in rainfall during this period have been a major factor as has diversion for irrigation LAKE CHADS VARIABILITY Africa: Atlas of our Changing Environment

2. One Planet Many People: Atlas of our Changing Environment Death of a sea ARAL SEA, KAZAKHSTAN Images show death of the worlds fourth largest inland sea 1986: 60% of the volume had been lost 1999-2004: The sea is now a quarter of the size it was 50 years ago 1973: The surface of the sea once measured 66 100 km 2

3. 1975 -Healthy natural vegetation 1989 - Fishbone pattern on the landscape indicates agriculture fields 2001 - Agriculture continues to replace forest cover RONDONIA, BRAZIL Converting forests to farmlands One Planet Many People: Atlas of our Changing Environment

4. UNEP Global Environmental Alert Service 1984/1985: south-west to north-east path cut through the forest in an area of north-central Mato Grosso where highway BR-163 was built in 1973, and another highway branching to the northwest off BR-163 MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL Deforestation may be reaching a tipping point By 2010, the clearing that occurred only along roads in the mid 1980s had spread throughout the entire area leaving only patches of forest

5. UNEP Global Environmental Alert Service 1989: Oil sands mining in the Fort McMurray area when the Canadian Govt. began to encourage expansion. The bright areas cut into the boreal forest and muskeg wetlands are mining pits, tailings ponds, production facilities and roads 2009: the footprint had grown dramatically, with active operations spanning over 55 km from north to south ATHABASCA OIL SANDS, CANADA