Socioecological Predicament on Global Steeply Sloped Cropland

Abstract

AbstractCropland on steep slopes is crucial for smallholders to maintain food security and their livelihoods, but the social‐ecological predicament on global steeply sloped cropland is largely overlooked and remains unclear. Here we find that global steeply sloped cropland supports ∼168 million people's livelihoods. Large disparities in population pressure on steeply sloped cropland exist across the development spectrum, among which lower‐middle‐income countries have the highest population density (∼222 per km2) and low‐income countries have the largest population growth rate (∼62.1% from 2000 to 2020). Moreover, inhabitants of steeply sloped cropland, especially those belonging to low‐income countries, are marginalized from public services and face more environmental pressure represented by severe soil erosion and low cropland productivity. Our findings imply that residents of steeply sloped cropland deserve more attention to eradicate global poverty and inequality.