Researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have compiled the first comprehensive map detailing what is left of the world’s pristine marine and terrestrial wilderness.

According to their results, which are published today in Nature, most of Earth’s surface has been modified by human activities, and we are running out of time to save what is left.

Just five countries, including Australia, have the lion’s share of remaining wilderness, and researcher James Watson from the University of Queensland said we should be one of the countries that shoulder the responsibility to protect it.

“Australia is one of them. The United States in another, Russia, Canada, and Brazil — those five nations hold 70 per cent of all the wilderness, not including the high seas and Antarctica,” Dr Watson said.