Pervasive cropland in protected areas highlight trade-offs between conservation and food security

Global cropland expansion over the last century caused widespread habitat loss and degradation. Establishment of protected areas aims to counteract the loss of habitats and to slow species extinctions. However, many protected areas also include high levels of habitat disturbance and conversion for uses such as cropland. Understanding where and why this occurs may realign conservation priorities and inform protected area policy in light of competing priorities such as food security. Here, we use our global synthesis cropland dataset to quantify cropland in protected areas globally and assess their relationship to conservation aims and socio-environmental context. We estimate that cropland occupies 1.4 million km(2) or 6% of global protected area. Cropland occurs across all protected area management types, with 22% occurring in strictly protected areas. Cropland inside protected areas is more prevalent in countries with higher population density, lower income inequality, and with higher agricultural suitability of protected lands. While this phenomenon is dominant in midnorthern latitudes, areas of cropland in protected areas of the tropics and subtropics may present greater trade-offs due to higher levels of both biodiversity and food insecurity. Although area-based targets are prominent in biodiversity goal-setting, our results show that they can mask persistent anthropogenic land uses detrimental to native ecosystem conservation. To ensure the long-term efficacy of protected areas, post-2020 goal setting must link aims for biodiversity and human health and improve monitoring of conservation outcomes in cropland-impacted protected areas.

Automated summary

The global expansion of cropland over the past century has led to widespread habitat loss and degradation. Protected areas, established to counteract habitat loss and species extinctions, also face issues of habitat disturbance and conversion for uses such as cropland. Understanding the presence of cropland in protected areas and its relationship to conservation goals and socio-environmental factors is crucial for informing conservation priorities and policies. The study found that cropland occupies 6% of global protected areas, with higher prevalence in countries with higher population density, lower income inequality, and higher agricultural suitability of protected lands. Balancing biodiversity conservation and food security in protected areas, especially in regions with high biodiversity and food insecurity, is essential for effective conservation planning.