A James Cook University scientist says a new map of the ecological footprint of humankind shows 97 per cent of the most species-rich places on Earth have been seriously altered.
JCU's Professor Bill Laurance has taken part in a study to map the ecological effect of people on the planet. He said the news isn't great.
"The most species-rich parts of the planet -- especially including the tropical rainforests -- have been hit hardest.