Global cropland loss at borders contributes to increased biodiversity

Border areas represent crucial, yet underexplored, potential sources of cultivated land, a region largely overlooked in global cropland analyses. Using high-frequency time-series (2001-2020) satellite data and interpretable machine learning model, here we conduct the global-coverage analysis of the patterns, drivers, and consequences of cropland changes in the borderlands. Our findings revealed that approximately 17% of global cropland was located in border areas, with a notable acceleration in land reduction during the 21st century. Most of the lost croplands were converted into grasslands (~67%) and forests (~32%). Climate and socio-economic factors collectively influenced changes in border cropland. A decrease in border cropland intensified species richness by increasing net primary productivity (NPP). These contrasting trends—declining cropland alongside rising biodiversity—underscore the need for future assessments to consider their implications for food security and sustainable development in border areas. Croplands located at border areas decline by around 17% from 2001 to 2020, converting to grasslands and forests and intensify species richness and biodiversity recovery, based on high-frequency time-series satellite data