Soil forms the basis of all terrestrial ecosystems, yet soil status and its biodiversity are often virtually ignored in environmental assessments. As an essential component of land resources, soil issues are given particular attention in this chapter. The term biodiversity refers to the total…

Definition Soil erosion control is the prevention or control of wind or water erosion that leads to the detachment, transportation and re-deposition of soil particles and the loss of soil fertility. Soil erosion control can be used on different land use types, such as cropland and forest/woodland…

(photo Matthias Zepper) The results of the Peoples’ Climate Vote, the world’s biggest ever survey of public opinion on climate change are published today. Covering 50 countries with over half of the world’s population, the survey includes over half a million people under the age of 18, a key…

Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme lessons provide policy-relevant information for UNCCD country Parties, key decision makers, national and international development partners and other international organizations to support the LDN advocacy. The reviews of the LDN target…

Some international agreements emerge quickly. But the birth of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was a long tortuous journey. In particular, it was undermined by the perception that it was a development Convention. Yet the evolution of its sister Rio Conventions on Climate…

Knowledge and information generated from the land degradation neutrality (LDN) monitoring process contributes to the learning process. Such knowledge can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in maintaining land-based natural capital (e.g. the outcomes of counterbalancing), to…

In each country, proverbs and sayings provide insights into beliefs and simple truths. Those beliefs were passed down from generation to generation, altered by the wisdom of the times and finally becoming part of culture and education. Humanity has lived and depended on land since ancient times…

Definition Grazing lands are lands where grass or grass-like vegetation grows and is the dominant form of plant life, and are used mainly for animal production. Grazing lands cover a broad range of land use types and include: Pastures: a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing…

Land Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) provides mobile apps supporting Land Degradation Neutrality project planning and implementation with simple soil and vegetation data collection.

Definition Agro-pastoralism is the integration of crop production and livestock production, and is practiced amongst settled, nomadic, and transhumant communities. The type of livestock kept by agro-pastoralists varies according to culture, climate, environment, natural resource availability, and…

The UNCCD Science to Policy Blog is designed for scientists, experts, practitioners, policy-makers and journalists to share their insights, expertise and ideas with other UNCCD stakeholders. It is also a means for the UNCCD to reach out to the general public and promote specific issues of interest…

In accordance with decision 23/COP.11, paragraph 3, the mandate of the SPI is to: Establish the approach to deliver each task assigned to it by the Committee on Science and Technology (CST); Analyze, synthesize and translate relevant scientific findings and recommendations from DLDD-related…

Definition Integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) is a set of soil fertility management practices that aim to optimize nutrient use efficiency and improve crop productivity. WOCAT describes ISFM as a technology that "is based on three principles: maximizing the use of organic sources of…

Definition Minimum soil disturbance are actions that reduce the level of soil manipulation, for example by applying low soil disturbance to shallow depths or on small strips of land. This includes zero tillage (no-till), reduced (minimum) tillage, mulch tillage, ridge tillage and contour tillage…

Definition Afforestation is the planting of trees or forest cover on land which historically did not contain forests, and reforestation is the planting of trees or forest cover on land which previously contained forest that was converted to another land use (WOCAT glossary). The technology is…

Definition Sustainable forest management (SFM) aims to responsibly manage natural and planted forests, and combines both forest productivity and forest conservation to sustainably increase benefits derived from forests and forest ecosystems. The technology is applied to land with forest areas, such…

When populations experience economic growth, their appetite for more food and more resource intensive food grows. While this is welcomed in many parts of the world in which communities suffer malnutrition and hunger, the gap between the haves and have nots is growing. The Chefs’ Manifesto is…

The UNCCD Knowledge Hub presents best practices in sustainable land management (SLM) technologies, including examples of best practices categorised by land use type and technology group. Policy makers, researchers, land users, and other stakeholders interested in land management can find practical…

The purpose of developing a comprehensive UNCCD knowledge management system is to address various knowledge management tasks and needs under the Convention through a coherent, value driven and practical knowledge management architecture and system.

Sustainable land management (SLM) has been widely promoted through many land-use projects in different countries and is increasingly promoted at policy and international levels, due in part to the extensive scientific evidence of its multiple benefits and synergies with sustainable development…

Tools and practices to achieve multiple benefits through LDN Facilitator: Jim Skea, Co-Chair, IPCC Working Group III Brief statements on: Soil carbon – a key indicator for LDN: Ermias Betemariam Tools for soil carbon estimation: Eleanor Campbell (University of New Hampshire) [figures] Integrated…

Land is important for human wellbeing, as it provides food, feed and fibre and contributes to regulating the ecosystem services on which the provision of these goods depend. Land is under growing pressure to meet the multiple needs of an increasingly urban and affluent global population, with a…

If you track science in the news regularly, you may have noticed the release of the IPBES Assessment Report on Land Degradation and Restoration, a landmark global scientific assessment of land degradation and restoration and its summary for policy makers[1]. Most of the press[2] reported the almost…

The plight of people migrating in the context of environmental degradation, climate change impacts and natural disasters and the potential governance responses to such challenges have received a lot of attention in recent years. So far, the climate diplomacy community has made significant progress…

Foundation for a healthy planet: The Enabling Environment for LDN Facilitator: Nichole Barger Brief statements: Sustainable land management for LDN: Jean-Luc Chotte Food security and LDN: Eduardo Mansur, Vera Boerger Human dimension of LDN: Lindsay Stringer, University of Leeds Making LDN inclusive…