To identify spatial variations in the amount of NPP consumption relative to local production in a way that highlight humanity's growing impact on the biosphere.

To assist in understanding human impacts on the environment, and especially impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

To be utilized in conjunction with a data set of human appropriation of net primary productivity (HANPP) in order to understand global energy flows and localized impacts on the environment.

To provide a map of anthropogenic impacts on the environment in geographic projection which can be used in modeling efforts, wildlife conservation planning, natural resource management, policy-making, biodiversity studies and human-environment interactions.

To provide a map of anthropogenic impacts on the environment in the Interrupted Goode Homosoline Projection which can be used in wildlife conservation planning, natural resource management, and research on human-environment interactions.

To identify remaining natural vegetation types in Central America.