Towards land degradation neutrality

Maintaining or improving the condition of our land resources

by securing healthy and productive land will dramatically

reduce poverty, ensure food and water security and improve

the living conditions of countless people around the world.

Our future depends on the land and its resources.

The sustainable management of our soil, water and

biodiversity can help realize their economic, social and

environmental benefits. LDN also includes the restoration of

degraded natural ecosystems that provide vital services to

people and working landscapes.”(Source: www.UNCCD.int)

The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and

Technologies (WOCAT) promotes sustainable land

management (SLM) and shares their knowledge. Their

network of specialists facilitates the reporting, the

dissemination and the implementation of locally adapted

SLM practices.

WOCAT defines 4 categories of measures to prevent,

mitigate and rehabilitate land degradation and restore

ecosystem services. Agronomic measures improve the soil

(mulching, manuring, conservation tillage). Vegetative

measures consist in planting trees, shrubs or grasses.

Structural measures change the structure of the land

(terraces, dams, ditches). Management measures include

change of land use, intensity, timing. Combinations of

measures are possible.

WOCAT, 2011

The Great Green Wall of Africa’s objective is to improve the

resilience of human and natural systems in Sahel and Saharan

areas faced with climate change through healthy ecosystem

management and sustainable development of natural

resources (water, soil, vegetation, fauna, flora), protection of

tangible and intangible rural heritage, the development of

rural production and sustainable development hubs,

improvement of living conditions and livelihoods of people

living in these areas

Pierre GRARD - CIRAD

Restoration of 600 ha of rainforest in the Bulcão Farm, Minas Gerais, BrazilThe Instituto Terra committed itself to the recovery of the rainforest in the completely devastated former cattle farm. Over 10 years, over two million seedlings of more than 290 species of trees were planted, recreating a forest of arboreal and shrub species native to the Atlantic Forest.While diverse soils are found of the farm, dark red ‘eutrophic’ soils predominate, that is, soils of great natural fertility, but highly susceptible to erosion and with little water infiltration capacity.By halting erosion of the soil, the replanting of the ground cover at the PNHR Bulcão Farm is fostering a revival of the farm’s water resources - both in quantity and quality. Fauna are turning: many species that were disappearing now find a secure home in Balcão Farm.