Description of the Data The Global Agricultural Lands in the Year 2000 data set represents the proportion of land area used as cropland (land used for the cultivation of food) and pasture (land used for grazing) in the year 2000. Satellite data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Satellite Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) Image Vegetation sensor were combined with agricultural inventory data to create a global data set. The maps show the extent and intensity of agricultural land use on earth. The data were compiled by Navin Ramankutty et al. (2008). This Web site provides access to the spatial data sets described in Ramankutty's paper in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Users may download the data as one global grid or as a grid for each of the six populated continents. The data are available in raster GeoTiff and GRID formats.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.