In a stark warning, the United Nations has highlighted a staggering £200 billion shortfall in funding necessary to combat the alarming degradation of agricultural land worldwide. With the global annual requirement set at £261 billion, current efforts have mobilised a mere £56 billion, raising concerns about food security, forced migration, and potential conflicts that could affect billions.
A Call for Innovative Financial Strategies
Yasmine Fouad, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and a former environment minister in Egypt, has underscored the critical need for fresh financial solutions to bridge this substantial funding gap. Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Fouad stated, “Today, there is a massive gap between the finance available and the finance required, but closing that gap cannot rely on public budgets alone.” She emphasised the necessity for the financial sector, development banks, and private investors to view healthy land as essential infrastructure for economic stability.
The latest UNCCD report reveals that approximately $355 billion (£261 billion) is essential each year to address land degradation, yet only $77 billion is currently being mobilised. Notably, around 72 per cent of this funding is sourced from nations directly facing severe threats, while foreign aid contributes 22 per cent. Alarmingly, private-sector investment accounts for a mere 6 per cent, highlighting a critical need for innovative financial mechanisms as global aid budgets dwindle.
Understanding Land Degradation and Its Consequences
Land degradation, characterized by a decline in quality and productivity due to factors like soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing, poses a significant threat to agriculture and livestock. The UNCCD defines desertification as persistent land degradation in arid areas, leading to diminished productivity and the spread of desert-like conditions. The dire implications of inaction extend far beyond environmental concerns; as Fouad points out, “Land degradation and drought are already contributing to food insecurity, supply chain disruptions, forced migration, rising inequality, and instability in vulnerable regions.”
Recent UNCCD data reveals that as of 2019, 15.4 per cent of the world’s land is classified as degraded, a worrying increase of 4 per cent since 2015. This translates to an annual loss of at least 100 million hectares of once-productive land, affecting the livelihoods of approximately 1.3 billion people. Moreover, the economic toll of desertification, land degradation, and drought amounts to about 2 per cent of GDP in affected countries, equating to approximately $878 billion annually.
Global Response and Initiatives
Fouad’s urgent message resonates with the environment ministers of the G7, who recently acknowledged desertification and drought as “systemic global challenges” that exacerbate security risks. However, there is a glimmer of hope. According to Fouad, if sufficient funding can be secured, numerous effective solutions are already in place.
“We are supporting projects like watershed management in Ethiopia and Kenya, and initiatives encouraging farmers in the Nile Delta to cultivate salt-resistant crops,” she explained. One significant project is the Great Green Wall, aimed at planting 100 million hectares of trees across the Sahel region by 2030. Additionally, 74 low- and middle-income countries vulnerable to drought have submitted management plans to the UNCCD, now in need of funding to be realised.
As the UNCCD prepares for its upcoming “Conference of Parties” in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in August, the focus will be on generating funds to combat desertification. Despite growing scepticism regarding the efficacy of such conferences in addressing global challenges, Fouad remains optimistic. “I see Cops as more important than ever, as they are critical to bringing together countries from both the global North and the global South,” she said. “The world depends on Cops to reach the consensus needed to address various global environmental challenges.”
Why it Matters
The ramifications of failing to secure adequate funding for land restoration extend beyond environmental degradation; they threaten global food security, exacerbate inequality, and fuel instability in already vulnerable regions. As the world faces an escalating climate crisis, the need for collaborative financial strategies that prioritise land health has never been more urgent. The future of billions hangs in the balance, and immediate action is imperative to avert a looming disaster.
