An obvious impact of LUC is to contribute
to climate change through the release of carbon stored in
former native vegetation when new croplands are expanded into.
Among the major patterns of LUC, the conversion of grasslands
and forests to croplands is considered the dominant drivers of
land-use-related GHG emissions. Grasslands cover about 40% of
the earth’s land surface area and exist on all continents, yet these
natural reserves have been steadily depleted due mainly to conversion
to agricultural lands