Archive for May 26, 2009

Erkin | May 26, 2009
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Facts and figures about water and agriculture

Out of the world’s total land area of 13 billion hectares (ha), 12% is cultivated, and an estimated 27% is used for pasture. The 1.5 billion ha of cropland include 277 million ha of irrigated land, representing 18% of cropland.

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In population terms, cropland amounts to a global average of 0.25 ha per person.

To satisfy the growing demand for food between 2000 and 2030, production of food crops in developing countries is projected to increase by 67%. At the same time, a continuing rise in productivity should make it possible to restrain the increase in water use for agriculture to about 14%.
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Category: Facts and figures |
Erkin | May 26, 2009
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Facts and figures about glaciers

Glaciers are defined as a large mass of perennial ice of atmospheric origin generally moving slowly on land over a long period.

About 75% of the world’s entire natural freshwater is contained within ice sheets and glaciers. However 97% is not considered to be a water resource as it is inaccessible, located in the Antarctic, Arctic and Greenland ice sheets.

Land-based glaciers and permanent snow and ice cover approximately 680,000 km2 and are critical to many nations’ water resources.

Between 1980 and 2001, the thickness of 30 major mountain glaciers decreased by an average of 6 metres.
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Category: Facts and figures |