The United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the alarming state of the world’s agricultural land, highlighting a staggering annual shortfall of £200 billion needed to prevent critical land degradation. According to Yasmine Fouad, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the current financial mobilised falls dramatically short of the estimated £261 billion required to address this escalating crisis. This funding gap threatens not only food security but also increases the risk of conflict and forced migration, impacting billions globally.
A Growing Crisis
Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Fouad emphasised the urgent need for innovative financial solutions to tackle land degradation, which she described as a looming catastrophe. “Today, there is a massive gap between the finance available and the finance required,” she stated. “This issue cannot be addressed through public budgets alone. We must engage the financial sector, development banks, insurance systems, and private capital to recognise healthy land as vital infrastructure for our economies and societies.”
The latest assessment from the UNCCD reveals that while $355 billion (£261 billion) is needed each year to combat land degradation, only $77 billion has been mobilised thus far. Of that, approximately 72% is generated domestically by the nations most affected, with a mere 6% sourced from private sector investments. With global aid budgets tightening, the call for a strategic influx of private financing has become increasingly urgent.
Understanding Land Degradation
Land degradation, characterised by a decline in land quality and productivity, manifests through various processes, including soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing. The UNCCD defines desertification specifically as persistent land degradation in dry regions, leading to a loss of productivity and the spread of desert-like conditions. This phenomenon poses a direct threat to agriculture, livestock, and food supply chains worldwide.
Fouad warned, “The risks of inaction extend beyond environmental concerns. Land degradation and drought are already driving food insecurity, disrupting supply chains, and contributing to forced migration, rising inequality, and instability in vulnerable regions.” She underscored the interconnectedness of our world, asserting that no nation is immune to these consequences.
A Call for International Cooperation
Recent data indicates that land degradation is worsening, with 15.4% of the world’s land classified as degraded in 2019—a 4% increase over four years. This degradation affects approximately 1.3 billion people and incurs annual costs to impacted countries equivalent to 2% of their GDP, amounting to $878 billion. The implications are profound, affecting food availability, soil fertility, and groundwater replenishment.
Fouad’s concerns have been echoed by G7 environment ministers, who have labelled desertification and drought as “systemic global challenges” that exacerbate security risks. This growing consensus highlights the urgency for coordinated global action.
Solutions in Sight
Despite the daunting challenges, Fouad remains hopeful about potential solutions. “If we can mobilise sufficient funds, there are effective strategies available,” she noted. Initiatives like watershed management projects in Ethiopia and Kenya, as well as efforts to promote salt-resistant crops in the Nile Delta, exemplify actionable responses to this crisis. Notably, the ambitious Great Green Wall initiative aims to plant 100 million hectares of trees across the Sahel region by 2030.
The UNCCD is set to convene a “Conference of Parties” (COP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, this August, where funding to combat desertification will be a central topic. While some may question the efficacy of such global summits, Fouad maintains that these gatherings are crucial for fostering international collaboration. “Cops are more important than ever in forging consensus among nations in both the Global North and South,” she asserted.
Why it Matters
The implications of failing to address land degradation extend far beyond environmental degradation; they pose significant risks to global stability and security. As food crises worsen and migration pressures mount, the need for robust investment in land restoration becomes not just a matter of ecological preservation but a strategic imperative for maintaining social order and shared prosperity. The time to act is now; the future of billions hangs in the balance.
