Global urbanization benefits food security and nature restoration

Wang, Sitong ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8680-4656; Deng, Ouping; Reis, Stefan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2428-8320; Zhu, Yong-Guan; Xu, Jianming; Gu, Baojing ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3986-3519. 2025 Global urbanization benefits food security and nature restoration. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 216, 108174. 12, pp. 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108174

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Abstract/Summary

Urbanization is often viewed as a threat to food security and environmental restoration due to extensive land use. However, by integrating urban and rural land perspectives, a different narrative emerges. Using data from 214 countries, we demonstrate that the projected urbanization of 2 billion people between 2020 and 2050 could unlock approximately 52 million hectares (Mha) of land, due to higher urban population densities. In scenarios with increased urban density, potential land savings could reach 80 Mha, meeting 55 % of the additional global cropland demand by 2050. If allocated for ecological restoration, this land could protect 1,437 species and sequester 21 billion tonnes (14–27 billion tonnes, 90 % confidence interval) of carbon by 2050. These findings underscore the positive impact that strategic urbanization can have on land use and conservation goals.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108174
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	UKCEH Fellows
ISSN:	0921-3449
Additional Keywords:	urbanization, land use change, food security, natural conservation
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	19 Feb 2025 14:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/538934

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