Spatial Distribution of Global Cultivated Land and Its Variation between 2000 and 2010, from Both Agro-Ecological and Geopolitical Perspectives

Min Cao,Weifeng Qiao,Guonian Lü,Min Chen,Yanhui Zhu

doi:10.3390/su11051242

Abstract

Food security requires a thorough understanding of the spatial characteristics of cultivated land changes on a global scale. In particular, the spatial heterogeneity of global cultivated land changes needs to be evaluated with high spatial resolution data. This study aims to analyse the spatial distribution of global cultivated land and the characteristics of its variation, by using GlobeLand30 data for 2000 and 2010 with a 30-m spatial resolution. The cultivated land percentage and rate of cultivated land use change are calculated based on 18 agro-ecological zones (AEZs), 32 geopolitical and socioeconomic regions, and 283 world regions. The results show that (1) more cultivated land is located in regions under a temperate climate and moderate moisture conditions; (2) the percentage of cultivated land is related to the gross domestic product (GDP) and population, while increases and decreases in cultivated land are related to the rural population, policy encouragement, urbanization, and economic development; and (3) the percentage of cultivated land and rate of land use change within an AEZ vary greatly due to the different socioeconomic conditions, and the values within a geopolitical area also vary, due to different natural conditions.

Highlights

As the global population rises and the demand for foods grows, food security remains a widespread and serious problem, and this problem could increase in uncertain and changing climates [1]
Agricultural activities cause a series of ecological consequences related to land use [4]
Agriculture is appropriately recognized as a considerable source of greenhouse gas emissions [5,6]

Summary

Introduction

As the global population rises and the demand for foods grows, food security remains a widespread and serious problem, and this problem could increase in uncertain and changing climates [1]. Agricultural activities are challenged by measures implemented to increase food demands in a sustainable manner [2,3]. Agricultural activities cause a series of ecological consequences related to land use [4]. Agriculture is appropriately recognized as a considerable source of greenhouse gas emissions [5,6]. Agricultural production must be increased to meet the growing demands for food, it may increase greenhouse gas emissions [7,8,9]. When humans use land resources to meet survival needs via agricultural activities, land surfaces, such as forests, grasslands, and savannas, are used as cultivated land. Analysis on the spatial distribution of cultivated land and its spatial variation throughout the world is helpful for understanding and solving the food security problem [19,20,21]

Objectives

Methods

Results