Facts

Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as settlements and semi-natural habitats such as arable fields, pastures, and managed woods.

Total world land area suitable for cropping: 4.4 billion hectares
Percent of the total world cultivated area that is rainfed: 80% (1.2 billion ha)
Total land area currently being cultivated: 1.6 billion hectares of which 20% (0.3 billion ha) is on marginally suitable lands
Share of world land sources that are degraded: 25%
Share that are moderately degraded: 8%
Share that are improving: 10%
In several regions, soil quality constraints affect more than half the cultivated land base, notably in sub-Saharan Africa, Southern America, Southeast Asia and Northern Europe.