Al-Ghat national park in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh region
Land degradation increasing by 1 million square kilometers annually, research reveals
Study urges immediate correction of practices to prevent land mismanagement from ‘jeopardizing the planet’s ability to sustain human and environmental health’
Globally, land degradation is escalating at a pace of 1 million square kilometers each year, jeopardizing endeavors to stabilize the climate, safeguard nature, and guarantee sustainable food production, as highlighted by a research study.
The area affected has reached 15 million square kilometers, exceeding the size of Antarctica, as indicated by the scientific study, which calls for an urgent shift in direction to prevent land misuse from “irretrievably jeopardizing the planet’s ability to sustain human and environmental health."
The document seeks to stimulate worldwide action for the sustainable management of land in anticipation of a gathering of 200 nations taking place this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the UN convention focused on combating desertification (UNCCD).
This convention is the least recognized among the three global assemblies, which include the climate and biodiversity conferences, all of which were established during the 1992 Earth summit to ensure the planet's continued habitability. The newly released report emphasizes how all these matters are interconnected and are contributing to a range of environmental and humanitarian crises.
Ibrahim Thiaw, the executive secretary of UNCCD, whose organization contributed to the report, stated, “If we neglect to recognize the critical importance of land and fail to take swift action, the ramifications will resonate through every facet of life and extend far into the future, exacerbating challenges for upcoming generations.”
The synthesis study, titled Stepping Back from the Precipice, was developed at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), which investigated the issue of land use within the framework of planetary boundaries.
The report observed that until recently, land ecosystems absorbed nearly one-third of carbon dioxide emissions produced by human activities, even as these emissions rose by 50%. However, over the past ten years, the ability of trees and soil to sequester excess CO₂ has diminished by 20% due to deforestation and the impacts of climate change.
The primary factor, as outlined in the report, is unsustainable farming practices, which account for 80% of the deforestation occurring. These methods, which involve excessive application of chemical substances, pesticides, and water diversion, also deplete soil quality, reduce water availability, and pollute ecosystems.
In the short term, this aggressive extraction may yield higher profits, but it ultimately leads to diminished crop productivity and compromised nutritional quality of the yields. An increasing number of instances result in desertification and the formation of dust bowls.
The report pinpoints various degradation hotspots in arid regions including South Asia, Northern China, the High Plains and California in the United States, as well as the Mediterranean. Currently, one-third of the global population resides in drylands, with three-quarters of Africa classified in this category.
This situation has severe humanitarian implications, particularly as low-income nations and socioeconomic groups bear the brunt of the effects. Women experience heightened workloads and health risks, while children encounter greater vulnerability to malnutrition and setbacks in education.
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