HOW TO ACHIEVE A “LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRAL WORLD”?

Ronald Vargas Rojas Brussels, 16 November 2012

1. What is land degradation and its status?

SOIL IS A LIMITED NATURAL RESOURCE

“Because it is everywhere, we tend to overlook the fact that soil is a limited natural resource”.

PROVISSION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES BY SOILS

The reduction in the capacity of the land to provide ecosystem goods and services over a period of time for its beneficiaries (LADA 2008).

What is land degradation?

Poor soil and land management could lead to Degradation

Do we know the current status of land degradation?

- Global land degradation assessments still relies on outdated datasets, for instance soil data information (still FAO-UNESCO world soil map continues being the only data source available).

- Very complex process, challenging to assess it using unique indicators. Estimates that need field validation, its dynamic nature urges to monitor it, at least using proxy indicators. Reaching global agreement is a real challenge, yet process continues.

- FAO estimates according to LADA project, 43% of rangelands and 20% of croplands are degraded. This figures could further rise due to climate change. Global figures play a role on raising awareness and formulating global policies, but are very coarse for taking wise decisions at field level.

Do we know the current status of land degradation?

SOLAW, 2011

LAND DEGRADATION, A REALITY

Reality in the field is that land degradation is a fact and continues its process.

STATUS OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES

B - In 50 years the world’s cultivated area has grown by 12%; the

irrigated area has doubled; agricultural production has grown

2.5 to 3 times, thanks to significant increase in yield of major crops.

- But, global achievements in production in some regions are

associated with degradation of land and water resources and

deterioration of ecosystem goods and services.

- Towards 2050, rising population and incomes are expected to

call for 70% more food production globally, and up to 100%

more in developing countries (relative to 2009). Yet, the

distribution of land and water resources does not favour countries

that need to produce more in the future.

- The largest share of increased agricultural output will most likely

come from intensification of production on existing agricultural

land. This will require widespread adoption of sustainable land

management practices.

SYSTEMS AT RISK (SOLAW)

B

- A series of land and water systems now face the risk of

progressive breakdown of their productive capacity

(driven by demographic pressure and unsustainable

agricultural practices).

2. Challenges to land resources

STATUS ON FOOD INSECURITY 2012

- Globally, the hunger people fell by

132 million since 1990. Proportion of

the hungry went from 23.2% to

14.9%.

- This means that if we set up our

efforts we can still reach the MDG of

halving the proportion of hungry by

2015.

- Hunger however has risen in Africa

and in Near East. 83 million more

undernourished in this region since

1990.

- SOFI shows that progress in reducing

hunger has stalled since 2007.

STATUS ON FOOD INSECURITY 2012

Towards 2050: population growth will be accompanied by unprecedented

rates of urbanization and demand of increased ecosystem services. This will put further pressure on land resources

food

production

needs

+60% globally

+100% in developing

countries

Towards 2050: food demand

LAND AND SOILS ARE UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE

Food security-land degradation

B

• Food insecurity is caused by the combination of different factors. One of them greatly affecting the availability and stability pillars of food security is food production. The foundation of food production is a healthy land system (healthy soils).

• The severity and extent of land degradation has a direct impact on the food insecurity and poverty status in the different regions .

3. FAO advocating for the sustainable management of land resources

SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURE

B

VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON THE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE OF TENURE OF LAND

B

GLOBAL SOIL PARTNERSHIP

B

Soils are perceived as a second-tier priority in the decision making processes.

Yet, we need them. “Securing healthy soils today, guarantying food security and human life tomorrow”

www.fao.org/globalsoilpartnership

Structure of the GSP

ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL SOIL PARTNERSHIPS

Nanjing, China

8-11 February 2012 Amman, Jordan 1-5 April 2012

Mar del Plata, Argentina

16-20 April 2012

GSP Pillars of Action

1. Promote sustainable management of soil resources and improved global governance for soil protection and sustainable productivity;

2. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education awareness and extension in soils;

3. Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps, priorities and synergies among economic/productive, environmental and social dimensions;

4. Enhance the quality and availability of soil data and information: collection, analysis, validation, reporting, monitoring, integration with other disciplines;

5. Harmonize and establish voluntary guidelines of methods, measurements and indicators for soil protection and sustainable management.

SOILS IN THE GLOBAL AGENDA

• FAO Council 5th December, countries will decide on the Observance of the World Soil Day on 5th December. FAO Conference (June 2013) and UNGA.

• Celebration of World Soil Day on 5 December 2012 at FAO HQ organizing a side event “Securing healthy soils for a food secure world: a day dedicated to soils” and a Workshop “Managing Living Soils”.

• FAO Council 3-7 December, request for the Celebration of the International Year of Soils 2017. FAO Conference (June 2013) and UNGA.

• FAO Council, adoption of the GSP ToRs.

• Global Soil Week 18-22 November 2012 in Berlin-Germany. This is a contribution from IASS to the Global Soil Partnership and will mark the implementation of Rio+20 agenda.

• Joint plan of actions for different pillars under development. Soil information projects linked with capacity development in Asia, MENA, and LAC.

4. Towards a Land Degradation Neutral World

Views for a neutral land degradation world

• Rio+20 goal of achieving a land-degradation neutral world, provide us a great opportunity as point of convergence in these different efforts and how to link it with key global concerns/goals such as Food Security, Climate change, Biodiversity, sustainable development, poverty eradication, etc.

• As we don’t have yet accurate global information on status of land degradation, it is crucial to define what do we mean by Neutral Land Degradation.

• Clear need to define specific, quantifiable, feasible targets similarly to the Zero Hunger Challenge. E.g. Number of has of restored land or soils. Definitely, these targets should be part of the MDG+15.

• It is of crucial importance to JOIN forces (isolated action will not take us far). Jointly develop programs for: improving the baseline global information (especially soils), promoting and implementing sustainable land management practices at field and landscape levels, restoration of degraded land, capacity development, extension services, support implementation of voluntary guidelines, increase investments on soil/land activities, etc.