Low-productivity agricultural land could be transformed into millions of hectares of conservation reserves across the world, according to University of Queensland-led research.
Low-productivity agricultural land could be transformed into millions of hectares of conservation reserves across the world, according to University of Queensland-led research.
The research team proposed a new way of understanding the conservation value of “uncontested lands” – areas where agricultural productivity is low.
Dr Zunyi Xie, from UQ’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said uncontested lands could be low-hanging fruit for expanding the world’s conservation areas.
“These spaces could offer great opportunities, and it’s time we recognise what that could mean and where it might be,” Dr Xie said.
Read more at University of Queensland
Image: 'Restoring degraded lands that are no longer contested for agricultural use, due to low productivity or inappropriate farming practices, may present a major conservation opportunity if balanced with local community and indigenous groups' needs.' (Credit: The University of Queensland)
