The pie chart outlines the key factors as to why land used for agriculture produces less over time, while the table gives a breakdown of the effect these causes had on agricultural land in three regions during the 1990s.
Overall, over-grazing, deforestation, and over-cultivation are all significant causes of land degradation globally, but the causes of less productive land in specific regions varies.
The pie chart shows that over-grazing by livestock is the most significant factor in land becoming degraded with 35% of land being affected in this way. However, this is closely followed by deforestation (30%) and over-cultivation (28%), with the remaining 7% being made up of other causes
With respect to the table, it is clear that in the 1990s the North American region had the lowest amount of degraded land at just 5%. Of this land, about two-thirds was damaged by over-cultivation, just under a third by over-grazing, and a minimal amount by deforestation. In contrast, at the same time almost a quarter (23%) of arable land in Europe was degraded. Unlike the American region, the main factor in Europe was deforestation, with 9. 8% of total land affected in this way. Moreover, over-cultivation (7. 7%) and over-grazing (5. 5%) were also majorly responsible for the deterioration of land quality. In the final region, Oceania, the main cause of land degradation was clearly over-grazing with 11. 3% of land being affected by this out of a total of 13% of land degraded in total. Conversely, over-cultivation appeared to play no role in this part of the world, while deforestation affected only a relatively small amount (1. 7%).
The pie chart outlines the key factors as to why
land
used
for agriculture produces less
over time
, while the table gives a breakdown of the effect these
causes
had on agricultural
land
in three
regions
during the 1990s.
Overall
, over-grazing,
deforestation
, and over-cultivation are all significant
causes
of
land
degradation globally,
but
the
causes
of less productive
land
in specific
regions
varies.
The pie chart
shows
that over-grazing by livestock is the most significant factor in
land
becoming degraded with 35% of
land
being
affected
in this way.
However
, this is
closely
followed by
deforestation
(30%) and over-cultivation (28%), with the remaining 7%
being made
up of other causes
With respect to the table, it is
clear
that in the 1990s the North American
region
had the lowest amount of degraded
land
at
just
5%. Of this
land
, about two-thirds
was damaged
by over-cultivation,
just
under a third by over-grazing, and a minimal amount by
deforestation
.
In contrast
, at the same time almost a quarter (23%) of arable
land
in Europe
was degraded
. Unlike the American
region
, the main factor in Europe was
deforestation
, with 9. 8% of total
land
affected
in this way.
Moreover
, over-cultivation (7. 7%) and over-grazing (5. 5%) were
also
majorly
responsible for the deterioration of
land
quality. In the final
region
, Oceania, the main
cause
of
land
degradation was
clearly
over-grazing with 11. 3% of
land
being
affected
by this out of a total of 13% of
land
degraded in total.
Conversely
, over-cultivation appeared to play no role in this part of the world, while
deforestation
affected
only
a
relatively
small
amount (1. 7%).