Researchers report that intensive row cropping area in Brazil increased from 26 Mha to 46.1 Mha between 2000 and 2014, around 80% of which was due to conversion of pasture to cropland and 20% due to conversion of natural vegetation, based on analysis of spatially detailed satellite imagery; expansion in dry tropical cerrado savannas was 2.5 times that of Amazon forests with overall dynamics reflecting market conditions, land use policies, and other factors.
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Article #18-10301: "Near doubling of Brazil's intensive row crop area since 2000," by Viviana Zalles et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Viviana Zalles, University of Maryland, College Park, MD; tel: 301-405-3083; e-mail: vzalles@umd.edu
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences