Global projections of future cropland expansion to 2050 and direct impacts on biodiversity and carbon storage.

ABSTRACT: Cropland expansion threatens biodiversity by driving habitat loss and impacts carbon storage through loss of biomass and soil carbon (C). There is a growing concern land-use change (LUC) to cropland will result in a loss of ecosystem function and various ecosystem services essential for human health and well-being. This paper examines projections of future cropland expansion from an integrated assessment model IMAGE 3.0 under a "business as usual" scenario and the direct impact on both biodiversity and C storage. By focusing on biodiversity hotspots and Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) sites, loss of habitat as well as potential impacts on endangered and critically endangered species are explored. With regards to C storage, the impact on both soil and vegetation standing C stocks are exa

SUBMITTER: Molotoks A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6282572 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature