Socioecological Predicament on Global Steeply Sloped Cropland. Issue 3 (3rd March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Ling; Xu, Baodong; Zhao, Jinsong; Li, Cai; Zeng, Yi; Niu, Yuhua; Yu, Shuxia; Wang, Zhen; Shi, Zhi‐Hua
• Is Part Of: Earth's future. Volume 11:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2023-03-03
• Subjects: cropland -- steep slope -- social‐ecological predicament -- poverty -- inequality; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2022EF003165
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-4277

Abstract

Abstract: Cropland on steep slopes is crucial for smallholders to maintain food security and their livelihoods, but the social‐ecological predicament on global steeply sloped cropland is largely overlooked and remains unclear. Here we find that global steeply sloped cropland supports ∼168 million people's livelihoods. Large disparities in population pressure on steeply sloped cropland exist across the development spectrum, among which lower‐middle‐income countries have the highest population density (∼222 per km 2 ) and low‐income countries have the largest population growth rate (∼62.1% from 2000 to 2020). Moreover, inhabitants of steeply sloped cropland, especially those belonging to low‐income countries, are marginalized from public services and face more environmental pressure represented by severe soil erosion and low cropland productivity. Our findings imply that residents of steeply sloped cropland deserve more attention to eradicate global poverty and inequality. Plain Language Summary: Steeply sloped areas support many people's livelihoods. Meanwhile, these areas are socially and ecologically fragile. Many of the dwellers in steeply sloped areas are smallholder farmers who are vulnerable to poverty and hunger, especially in developing and transition countries. Understanding the social‐ecological predicament on the global steeply sloped cropland is crucial for alleviating the contradiction between environmental degradation and economic development in steeply sloped areas and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals with "no one left behind." Our findings show that steeply sloped cropland supports ∼168 million people's livelihoods, and these people are marginalized from public services and face more environmental pressure. We identify these lagging regions to efficiently allocate resources, propose targeted decision‐making, and call for more attention to the plight of steeply sloped cropland residents to reduce global inequality. Key Points: Around 168 million people worldwide depend on the approximately 1 million km 2 of cropland on steep slopes for their livelihoods Population living around steeply sloped cropland has grown from 2000 to 2020, with low‐income countries having the highest growth rate People that rely on steeply sloped cropland are more likely to experience ecological poverty and exclusion from modern society