What is meant by "square meters donated"?

[Manyhorses Bailey]

I was checking my land holdings and saw a reference to "square meters donated".  What does that mean?  I don't recall donating land.

[MoiraKathleen]

If you donate tier to a group that is what shows up as square meters donated.  So it's not donating land itself, but donating tier to a group. Generally when someone donates tier it is because they want to have their mainland group owned in order to get the group bonus, or when several friends decide to each donate tier to the same land group so that they can share a larger parcel. 

On the web dashboard, left sidebar, "Land Manager" -> "Group Land" will display a list of all the groups you belong to and shows any tier that you may have donated to that group.

[Persephone Emerald]

When I had mainland and rented parcels, donating tier was one way of paying rent for a parcel. Either way, the person would get a VIP group tag with greater land group rights.

[Manyhorses Bailey]

Thank you, you have been very helpful!