Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
35% of the Brazilian territory is covered by the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes in the northwest of the country (UNCCD, 2024).
43 million cattle and 14 million sheep in intensive systems depend on pasture for their feed (UNCCD, 2024).
2.29 million km² of South America are savannas, between 8% and 10% of its global extension (UNCCD, 2024).
33% of South America's land area is covered by grasslands (UNCCD, 2024).
30% of the global carbon pool is in grasslands (UNCCD, 2024).
12% of the world's grasslands, equivalent to 9.5 million km², are protected (UNCCD, 2024).
10% of the world's meat production comes from pastoralism, which is practiced in more than 100 countries and supports 200 million households (UNCCD, 2024).
16% of world food production and 70% of food for domestic herbivores comes from grasslands, mainly in Africa and South America (UNCCD, 2024).
0.65 or less is the aridity index of many drylands where grasslands are located, characterized by water scarcity (UNCCD, 2024).
50% of the Earth's land surface is covered by grasslands, which consist of grasses, herbaceous plants and shrubs, and are used as grazing by livestock and wildlife (UNCCD, 2024).