June 5th 2024 is World Environment Day! Today we discuss the problem of land degradation, desertification, and drought, and the mitigating powers of land restoration.
Land Degradation is the deterioration of the soil’s ability to sustain large amounts of life. Degradation occurs due to factors such as rising temperatures, deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, over-extraction of water for irrigation, and urban development. Land degradation leads to food insecurity and increased poverty as crop yields decrease and farmers struggle to feed the world and themselves.
Desertification is the process in which fertile lands become a desert. The factors that cause land degradation also disrupt the natural water cycle, reducing soil moisture and depleting groundwater reserves. The risk of desertification affects over 100 countries, with the poorest and most vulnerable populations hit the hardest, since subsistence farming is common across many of the affected regions.
Droughts affect an estimated 55 million people globally every year. Rising temperatures caused by climate change are making dry regions drier and wet regions wetter. In dry regions, when temperatures rise, water evaporates more quickly, increasing the risk of drought or prolongs periods of drought. Droughts threaten livestock and crops, increase the risk of disease and death, and fuel mass migration. Water scarcity impacts 40% of the world’s population, and as many as 700 million people are at-risk of being displaced as due to drought by 2030.
Land restoration is the ecological process of purposefully restoring a landscape to a previous state. We can regenerate land to be natural and safe for humans, wildlife, and plant communities once again. Regenerative Agriculture is the method of growing food while simultaneously improving soil health and the surrounding watershed.
Land degradation, desertification, and drought can be mitigated through sustainable land management. This involves selecting native plants and avoiding plants and livestock that require large amounts of water in naturally drier areas. Techniques such as agroforestry, polycropping, no-till farming/gardening and cover cropping can help soils retain moisture.
We should also work to restore freshwater ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems help sustain the water cycles that keep land fertile. By identifying and reducing sources of pollution, removing invasive species, and improving our infrastructure for sewage and other wastewater, we can heal freshwater habitats.
Land restoration can reverse the effects of land degradation, drought, and desertification. Regenerating ecosystems can increase resilience to extreme weather events and sequester carbon, slowing the rate of climate change. Whether it’s land for food production, public green spaces, or your backyard, mindful land stewardship can mitigate dangerous climate change risks.
Sources:
World Environment Day 2024: accelerating land restoration, drought resilience & desertification progress
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/statements/world-environment-day-2024-accelerating-land-restoration-drought
WHO Climate change: Land degradation and desertification
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/climate-change-land-degradation-and-desertification
Drought - WHO
https://www.who.int/health-topics/drought/#tab=tab_1
Seven ways to restore land, halt desertification and combat drought
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/seven-ways-restore-land-halt-desertification-and-combat-drought
What Is Drought-Tolerant Landscaping?
https://www.thespruce.com/drought-tolerant-landscaping-what-to-know-2736660