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The United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the escalating crisis of land degradation, emphasising that an additional £200 billion is urgently needed each year to prevent vast areas of farmland from becoming barren. Currently, only £56 billion is being mobilised for this critical issue, with the consequences potentially leading to widespread food insecurity, forced migration, and increased conflict affecting billions globally.
A Growing Financial Shortfall
Yasmine Fouad, the executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and former Egyptian environment minister, has highlighted the alarming disparity between the funding required to combat land degradation and what is currently available. Speaking exclusively to The Independent, she 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 urged that the financial sector, development banks, and private investors must view healthy land as essential infrastructure for economic stability.
According to the latest UNCCD report, tackling land degradation on a global scale necessitates an annual investment of approximately $355 billion (£261 billion). However, only about $77 billion is currently being mobilised, with the majority of this funding sourced from countries at high risk of degradation. Alarmingly, private sector investment contributes a mere 6% of the total, underscoring the urgent need for innovative financing mechanisms to bridge this funding gap.
Understanding Land Degradation
Land degradation encompasses a decline in the quality and productivity of land due to various factors, including soil erosion, deforestation, and overgrazing. Specifically, desertification refers to the persistent degradation of land in dry regions, leading to diminished agricultural productivity and the spread of desert-like conditions. The repercussions of these changes are severe, threatening not only agriculture but also the livelihoods of millions.
Fouad elaborated, “The risks of inaction are no longer confined to environmental consequences. Land degradation and drought are already contributing to food insecurity, supply chain disruptions, forced migration, rising inequality, and instability in vulnerable regions.” In our interconnected world, the impacts of land degradation are felt universally, making investment in land restoration a fundamental strategy for resilience and shared prosperity.
The Global Context
Recent data from UNCCD indicates a troubling trend: 15.4% of land globally was classified as degraded in 2019, marking a 4% increase over just four years. This degradation translates to over 100 million hectares of once-productive land lost each year, affecting approximately 1.3 billion people. The economic toll is staggering, with desertification and drought costing affected nations around 2% of their GDP annually—equating to roughly $878 billion. This loss encompasses critical areas such as food availability, soil fertility, and groundwater replenishment.
The urgency of this issue has been echoed by G7 environment ministers, who recently characterised desertification and drought as “systemic global challenges” that act as multipliers for security risks. Their communique points to the necessity of a coordinated global response to address the multifaceted threats posed by land degradation.
Solutions on the Horizon
Despite the daunting financial requirements, Fouad remains hopeful about the potential for effective solutions. She noted that if sufficient funds were raised, numerous initiatives could be implemented to mitigate the crisis. “We are supporting watershed management projects in Ethiopia and Kenya, and promoting crop varieties in the Nile Delta that can endure increasingly saline soils,” she explained.
One of the flagship initiatives under UNCCD is the Great Green Wall project aimed at combating desertification across the Sahel region of Africa. This ambitious endeavour seeks to restore 100 million hectares of land by 2030. Additionally, 74 drought-prone countries have submitted drought management plans to UNCCD, signalling a commitment to address these challenges, pending the necessary funding.
In August, the UNCCD will convene its “Conference of Parties” (COP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where generating finance to combat desertification will be a central focus. Despite scepticism surrounding the efficacy of such conferences, Fouad remains optimistic, asserting that these gatherings are crucial for fostering global collaboration. “I see COPs as more important than ever,” she stated. “They are vital for bringing together countries from both the Global North and Global South to reach the consensus needed to tackle global environmental challenges.”
Why it Matters
The future of global food security, social stability, and economic resilience hinges on our collective response to land degradation. The UN’s call for a substantial increase in funding is not merely a financial issue; it is a clarion call for a shift in how we perceive and value the health of our land. As climate change intensifies and resources become scarcer, addressing land degradation is imperative—not just for the environments of vulnerable nations, but for the interconnected future of humanity as a whole. Investing in land restoration is a proactive measure that promises to yield benefits far beyond immediate agricultural outcomes, fostering stability and prosperity for generations to come.