A hectare is a unit of area measurement commonly used in land planning and agriculture. It is equivalent to 10,000 square meters or about 2.47 acres. The term is derived from the metric system, making it easier to calculate land sizes in countries that use metric measurements. Hectares are often used to describe the size of farms, forests, and other large plots of land. For example, a small farm might be 5 hectares, while a large national park could cover thousands of hectares. This unit helps in understanding land use and management in various contexts, including agriculture and environmental conservation.