6% of Earth’s protected land is used to grow crops, study finds
by Morgan Erickson-Davis on 23 January 2021
Protected areas are intended safeguard the planet’s vulnerable inhabitants – including 83% of its endangered species.
A new study reveals that cropland takes up 13.6% of the planet’s ice-free surface area and overlaps with 6% of its protected areas.
While some species are at home in agricultural fields, many are not – particularly the endangered species many protected areas were created to safeguard.
The study’s authors call for national and international sustainability goals to implement a more holistic, data-driven approach when it comes to improving food security and preserving habitat.