We Can Thank Farmers for “One of the Biggest Conservation Wins”

Global agricultural land use peaked in the early 2000s and is now declining, freeing up space where grasslands, forests, and wild animals are returning — a hopeful sign for rewilding and biodiversity.

“This is one of the biggest conservation wins you’ve never heard of,” said researchers studying global land use trends.

Thanks to efficiencies in farming — including better seeds, irrigation, and fertilisers — humanity has spared about 1.8 billion hectares (4.4 billion acres, or around 35 times the size of Spain) from being converted into farmland. In parts of Europe, North America, Australia, and Central Asia, pastures and fields are being abandoned to allow them to rewild naturally. Wild animals are reclaiming areas once used for grazing. In addition to this, synthetic alternatives to land-hungry crops (such as artificial flavours and fibres) have saved over 110 million hectares. It’s a reminder that when human innovation and demand shift, nature can rebound, and that the Earth may already be entering an era of regeneration.