World’s Soil Resources

Figure 6.10 Urbanisation of the best agricultural soils.
Between 1990 and 2000, the total extent of urban areas worldwide increased by 58 000 km 2 . During this period,
2.8 percent of Europe’s total land was affected by land use change, including a significant increase in urban land. Of
the total land take in the EU between 1990 and 2000, 71 percent was for agriculture. Between 2000 and 2006, the
equivalent figure was only 53 percent. Had the land taken for urban expansion been devoted to agriculture instead,
the land would have produced more than 6 Mt of wheat. More generally, the best quality soil in alluvial plains is often
sealed by expanding cities and the rate of conversion is expected to increase rapidly, especially in developing countries.
Status of the World’s Soil Resources | Main Report Global soil status, processes and trends
131