Land Degradation: A threat to Food Security

WORLD Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2015 was celebrated on June 17 with the recognition that land is critical more than ever; as one in eight people lacked nutritious food, according to the 2014 State of Food Insecurity report.This corresponds to a global figure of 805 million people; the vast majority living in developing countries.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) slogan this year, ‘There is no such thing as a free lunch, Invest in healthy soils’ is a reminder to countries that desertification could be effectively tackled.

The day celebrates solutions that are possible, and highlights that strengthening cooperation and community participation are the key tools for good environmental stewardship. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is used to increase awareness of the Convention and global efforts to combat desertification and the effects of drought.

Land is our natural ally. But the natural conditions of land and soils are not eternal, and must be protected. Soil is the most significant geo-resource we have for ensuring water, energy and food security for present and future generations.

Food security requires productive land. When land is degraded, it experiences a reduction or loss in the biological or economic productive capacity of the land (UNCCD 1994). This is caused by human activities, exacerbated by natural processes, and often magnified by the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Persistent land degradation over a period of time and reduction of productivity in drylands, could lead to an extreme case of degradation or desertification. Another major issue requiring more attention is drought, a deficiency of precipitation that results in a water shortage, and like land degradation, occurs throughout the world including in the humid regions.

Land degradation affects the value of land which is often determined by its capacity to provide goods, such as food, fuel and fiber. Global average estimates of the economic loss of on-site productivity due to land degradation range between 3-5% of agricultural gross domestic product or approximately US$490 billion per year (Global Mechanism, World Bank).

Land productivity is not only important for the provisioning of services (food, fiber, etc) but also for the delivery of regulating and cultural services. As land degradation reduces soil and water efficiencies. It either decreases food production or increases the costs of production through external inputs (e.g., fertilizers, imported water, pesticides). This in turn raises prices and increases food insecurity and poverty.

WHY COLLECTIVE ACTION? Land degradation directly affects some 1.5 billion people, including 42% of the world’s very poor and 32% of the moderately poor. (GLADIS – Global Land Degradation Information System)
Some studies indicate that the percentage of total land area already degraded or being degraded increased from 15% in 1991 to 25% in 2011. Estimates indicate that up to 25% of all land is currently highly degraded, 36% is slightly or moderately degraded but in stable condition, while only 10% is improving (FAO 2011).
Many communities rely heavily on land as their main source of livelihood, human health and wellbeing; thus, the vital functions of land and soil underpin the nexus of food, renewable energy and water security.
GLOBAL TO LOCAL ACTIONS!
Restoring degraded land and soil are proposed in the Sustainable Development Goal 15 which calls for countries to achieve the outcome – “By 2020, combat desertification, and restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation neutral world”.

In Guyana, post mining land reclamation actions seek to restore productivity of the land by restoring the soil. The National Focal Point, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission is undertaking a Project to support the alignment of the National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation (NAP) to the UNCCD Ten Year Strategy. Various Agencies have contributed to the implementation of the NAP over the years after its approval in 2006.

The aligned NAP would strategically guide Guyana to fulfill its obligations to the UNCCD with priorities to combat and reverse land degradation and promote sustainable land management. Our implementing partners for the Project are the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility. The implementation of the Aligned NAP requires collaboration with Governmental, Non-governmental and International Organisations.

Economic development, nutritional intake, managing natural disasters among other priorities such as enabling policies and programmes are key actions needed. Competition for productive land and growing population increase the need for food security. While some lands may be degraded, recovery options have become more critical than ever, and many Governments budget and reclaim land for productive use.

A LAND DEGRADATION-NEUTRAL (LDN) WORLD

The objective of a LDN World is to maintain and improve the quantity and quality of productive land and to enhance the flow of ecosystem services for current and future generations. Land degradation neutrality is achieved when globally or in a given landscape or terrestrial ecosystem, the area of productive land (and therefore sustainable land use) remains stable or increases. Countries need to reduce degradation processes and increase restoration activities at community and/or landscape levels.
Zero net land degradation means that we prevent the degradation of productive land and restore land that is already degraded. This is possible through sustainable land management policies and practices. Scientific findings and technical know-how indicate that we can achieve a land degradation neutral world. Zero net land degradation is scientifically sound, technically feasible, and economically advantageous. It is not only possible, but prerequisite for sustainable development.

Let us do our part towards reducing hunger and poverty for a land degradation neutral world!!! Encourage good land management practices by planting a tree in an open area, tell someone about this article or share your ideas on how to help combat land degradation on glsclupp@gmail.com.

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