Global Land System classification data

Logistic regressions were used to analyze variation in spatial determinants of Land Systems. This analysis indicates strong associations between Land Systems and a range of socioeconomic and biophysical indicators of human-environment interactions. The set of identified spatial determinants of a Land System differs among regions and scales, especially for (mosaic) cropland systems, grassland systems with livestock, and settlements.

(Semi-)Natural LS have more similar spatial determinants across regions and scales. Using Land Systems in global models is expected to result in a more accurate representation of land use capturing important aspects of land systems and land architecture: the variation in land cover and the link between land-use intensity and livestock composition. Because the set of most important spatial determinants of LS varies among regions and scales, land-change models that include the human drivers of land change are best parameterized at sub-global level, where similar biophysical, socioeconomic and cultural conditions prevail in the specific regions.