Impact of Land Degradation on Sustainable Development - Global Challenges & Solutions

1. Impact of Land degradation, desertification and drought on sustainable development of LLDCs NK, NYLO United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification DLDD = Desertification Land Degradation & Drought

2. Areas affected by desertification and land degradation

3. Desertification affects over 40% of total world land area Africa: Two thirds drylands, 73 % is moderately or severely affected Asia: One third is drylands, 71% affected, All Pacific islands states face some sort of land degradation North America proportion of drylands is 74% Five European Union countries are affected Latin America and the Caribbean: one fourth drylands, 75% affected 110 countries have drylands that are potentially at risk. Over 250 million people are directly affected and One billion under threat or at risk Global desertification costs: US$42 Billion;

4. Land is a finite resource

5. DLDD: Some facts & figures ?  More than 50% of agricultural moderately to severely degraded  LD directly affects 1,5 billion people Sustainable Development globally  75 billion tons of fertile soil disappear/year Food Energy Water  12 million ha/Year lost due to drought and desertification Forest  Six million km2 of drylands bear a legacy of desertification  Biodiversity: 27,000 species lost each year due to LD Land “Improved management of the world’s land (including terrestrial carbon) represents 1/3rdof the overall global abatement potential in 2030 DLDD Cli B

6. Main Causes of Desertification/land degradation • Human activity :over cultivation, over grazing • Deforestation • Poor agricultural practices • Drought and Climate Change

7. Increased to Drought & Water stress Extreme Food insecurity & Hunger Poverty Increased Biodiversity emissions of GHG Loss Instability & Deforestation Migrations Crises DLDD has far-reaching impacts

9. Drylands and Conflicts(Cf. “Common Wealth” by J. Sachs)

10. Drought potential worldwide 2000-2098 Source : University Corporation for Atmospheric Research - http://www2.ucar.edu/news/2904/climate-change-drought-may-threaten-much-globe-within-decades

11. S

12. “Future We Want” • Desertification, land degradation and drought • 205. We recognize the economic and social significance of good land management, • including soil, particularly its contribution to economic growth, biodiversity, • sustainable agriculture and food security, eradicating poverty, the empowerment of • women, addressing climate change and improving water availability. We stress that • desertification, land degradation and drought are challenges of a global dimension • and continue to pose serious challenges to the sustainable development of all • countries, in particular developing countries. We also stress the particular challenges • this poses for Africa, the least developed countries and the landlocked developing • countries. In this regard, we express deep concern for the devastating consequences • of cyclical drought and famine in Africa, in particular in the Horn of Africa and the • Sahel region, and call for urgent action through short-, medium- and long-term • measures at all levels. • 206. We recognize the need for urgent action to reverse land degradation. In view of • this, we will strive to achieve a land-degradation neutral world in the context of • sustainable development. This should act to catalyse financial resources from a • range of public and private sources.

13. U Cost of Action Vs Inaction The Economics of Land Degradation

14. Intervention Options for ZNLD Type 1 - High degradation trend Rehabilitate if economically or highly degraded lands: 25% feasible; mitigate where degrading trends are high Type 2 - Moderate degradation Introduce measure to mitigate trend in slightly or moderately degradation degraded land: 8% Type 3 - Stable land, slightly or Preventive interventions moderately degraded: 36% Type 4 - Improving lands: 10% Reinforcement of enabling conditions which foster SLM Source FAO SOLAW 2011

15. Source: W and the Gl http://www

16. Drought & Water stress Food Security Poverty eradication Preserving the resource base for food security - Land Improving livelihood through pro-poor policies on Improving water availability & productivity/Soil fertility quality through sustainable Sustainable Land & Water Management improvement at the core of all long term strategies land & water management Climate change Biodiversity Land is a win-win context for adaptation, mitigation & Biodiversity conservation through improvement of land Holistic Managemt resilience building ecosystems’ conditions Avoided Avoiding Forced Migrations Bio Energies Deforestation Opportunities for Bio energies through biomass Sust. Land Management & Restoration of degraded Lands as an alternative to Changing the DAM paradigm “Degrade-Abandon-Migrate” production Deforestation

17. Thank you "If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory…”.