Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Shifting cultivation—also known as slash-and-burn agriculture—covers approximately 11% of Earth's terrestrial surface. While significant, it's not the most extensive land use category globally.
That distinction belongs to pastureland for livestock grazing, which occupies roughly 26% of the global land surface—more than double the area used for shifting cultivation. This vast expanse supports the world's cattle, sheep, goats, and other grazing animals, forming the backbone of many agricultural economies.
Other major land use categories include cropland (about 12%), forests (roughly 31%), and urban/built-up areas (around 1-3%). The dominance of pastureland reflects humanity's heavy reliance on animal protein and the extensive space requirements for grazing compared to intensive crop production.