Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Cultivated land
Forest land
Grassland and woodland ecosystems
Sparsely vegetated and barren land
Settlement and infrastructure
Inland water bodies
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
FIGURE 4.2
Land use classification showing the importance of grazing lands (sparsely veg-
etated and barren, grassland and woodland, and forest land uses) in all agricultural regions.
(Adapted from Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]. 2011.
The State of the World's
Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture
[
SOL AW
]
—Managing Systems at Risk.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome and Earthscan, London.)
Grazing lands are particularly important in the world's dryland areas, which are espe-
cially sensitive to land degradation. Of the 3.4 billion ha of rangelands worldwide,
an estimated 73% are affected by soil degradation (World Overview of Conservation
Approaches and Technologies 2009). Additionally, land clearing for expansion of
pastures for livestock production is one of the driving forces behind deforestation in
