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Crop expansion and conservation priorities in tropical countries
Ben Phalan1, Monika Bertzky, Stuart H M Butchart
1Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. btp22@cam.ac.uk
Plos One
|January 18, 2013
Summary
Tropical cropland expansion, driven by crops like rice, soybeans, and maize, is causing significant biodiversity loss. Urgent policy changes are needed to balance agriculture with conservation efforts in vulnerable areas.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Tropical agricultural expansion is a primary driver of biodiversity loss.
- This expansion threatens progress toward global conservation goals, such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
- Understanding crop distribution and expansion is crucial for effective conservation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze crop distribution and expansion in 128 tropical countries.
- To assess changes in major crop areas and map cultivation potential against conservation priorities.
- To identify vulnerable biodiversity areas at risk from agricultural conversion.
Main Methods:
- Data analysis of crop distribution and expansion from 1999-2008.
- Mapping of cultivation potential and overlaps with conservation priority areas.
- Assessment of annual cropland expansion rates and key contributing countries.
Main Results:
- Cropland in tropical countries expanded by approximately 48,000 km(2) annually.
- Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Brazil showed the greatest cropland increases.
- Rice, soybeans, and maize were among the fastest-expanding crops, with potential threats to biodiversity hotspots.
Conclusions:
- High cultivation potential areas, including some biodiversity conservation priorities, are vulnerable to future conversion.
- Effective sustainability standards and policies are urgently needed for tropical commodity production and consumption.
- Robust land-use planning, protected area establishment, and reduced incentives for bioenergy feedstocks are recommended.
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