Scientists at Oxford University are aiming to produce a global map of the land owned by the world’s religions.

The Oxford researchers estimate religious groups own about eight per cent of land across round the globe, much of it covered in forest.

A research team from the Biodiversity Institute in the Oxford Martin School is scientifically measuring the coverage of religious and sacred land. Prof Kathy Willis, Dr Shonil Bhagwat and graduate student Ashley Massey at the Biodiversity Institute aim to create a database that can inform scientists on how they can work with community groups and religions. Dr Bhagwat said: “Such mapping can also allow the custodian communities, who have protected these sites for generations, to secure their legal status.”