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Imperative to ‘bend the curve’ of land degradation by reducing food waste, unlocking sustainable ocean-based food potential and  restoring half of degraded lands by 2050  In Nature, 21 leading scientists today prescribe ways to use food systems to halt and reverse land degradation, underlining that doing so must become a top global priority to mitigate climate change and stop biodiversity loss.  The article breaks new ground by quantifying the impact by 2050 of reducing food waste by 75 per cent and maximising sustainable ocean-based food production, measures that alone could spare an area larger than Africa.   According to the paper: “Food systems have not yet been fully incorporated into intergovernmental agreements, nor do they receive sufficient focus in current strategies to address land degradation.  Rapid, integrated reforms focused on global food systems, however, can move land health from crisis to recovery and secure a healthier, more stable planet for all.” The authors underline especially the importance of halting food waste and sustainably managing lands, and suggest an ambitious but achievable target of 50 per cent land restoration for 2050 (currently 30 per cent by 2030).  And, they emphasize, the measures outlined would enormously co-benefit the climate, biodiversity, and global health.   Says lead author Fernando T. Maestre of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia: “This paper presents a bold, integrated set of actions to tackle land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change together, as well as a clear pathway for implementing them by 2050.”  “By transforming food systems, restoring degraded land, harnessing the potential of sustainable seafood, and fostering cooperation across nations and sectors, we can ‘bend the curve’ and reverse land degradation while advancing towards goals of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and other global agreements.” Adds co-author Barron J. Orr, UNCCD’s Chief Scientist: “Once soils lose fertility, water tables deplete, and biodiversity is lost, restoring the land becomes exponentially more expensive. Ongoing rates of land degradation contribute to a cascade of mounting global challenges, including food and water insecurity, forced relocation and population migration, social unrest, and economic inequality.” “Land degradation isn’t just a rural issue, it affects the food on all our plates, the air we breathe, and the stability of the world we live in. This isn’t about saving the environment, it’s about securing our shared future.” Key recommendations: 1. Restoring 50 per cent of degraded land through sustainable land management practices would correspond to the restoration of 3 Mkm² of cropland and 10 Mkm² of non-cropland, a total of 13 Mkm². Land restoration must involve the people who live on and manage the land — especially Indigenous Peoples, smallholder farmers, women, and other vulnerable people and communities, the article says. To support them, the authors recommend: Support for small farmers: Most of the world’s food is grown by small and family farms. The paper calls for shifting agricultural subsidies from large-scale industrial farms toward sustainable smallholders, incentivizing good land stewardship among the world’s 608 million farms, and fostering their access to technology, secure land rights, and fair marketsLand-based taxes or tariffs: To reward sustainable  farming and penalize pollutersEnvironmental labeling: So consumers can make informed, planet-friendly food choicesBetter data and reporting: To track emissions and land use impacts 2. Reduce food waste by 75 per cent: An estimated 56.5 Mkm² of agricultural land (cropland and rangelands) are used to produce food, and roughly 33 per cent of all food produced is wasted (14 per cent lost post harvest at farms; 19 per cent at the retail, food service and household stages). Reducing food waste by 75 per cent, therefore, could spare roughly 13.4 Mkm² of land. The authors highlight key measures to remedy this, including: Policies to prevent overproduction and spoilageBan food industry rules that reject “ugly” produceEncourage food donations and discounted sales of near-expiry productsEducation campaigns to reduce household wasteSupport small farmers in developing countries to improve storage and transport They note new legislation in Spain requiring stores to donate or sell surplus food, restaurants to offer take-home containers, and all actors across the food supply chain to implement formal food waste reduction plans. 3. Integrate land and marine food systems: Red meat produced in unsustainable ways consumes large amounts of land, water, and feed, and emits significant greenhouse gases. Seafood and seaweed are sustainable, nutritious alternatives. Seaweed, for example, needs no freshwater and absorbs atmospheric carbon. Responsible aquaculture—focusing on low-impact species like mussels and seaweed-derived products—can reduce pressure on land. The authors recommend: Replacing 70 per cent of unsustainably produced red meat to sustainably sourced seafood, such as wild or farmed fish and mollusks. Doing so would spare 17.1 Mkm² of land currently used for pasture and livestock feedUsing sustainably sourced seaweed-derived products as a vegetable substitute—replacing just 10 per cent of global vegetable intake with seaweed-derived products could free up over 0.4 Mkm² of cropland. These changes are especially relevant for wealthier countries with high meat consumption. In some poorer regions, animal products remain crucial for nutrition. Total land spared by food system-related measures 2 and 3: ~30.9 Mkm², an area roughly equal to Africa. The combination of land restoration, food waste reduction,, and dietary shifts, therefore, would spare or restore roughly 43.8 Mkm² in 30 years (2020-2050).   The proposed measures combined would also  Contribute to emission reduction efforts by mitigating roughly 13 Gt of CO2-equivalent per year through 2050.Co-benefit biodiversity by improving habitat quality and ecosystem functioning, and avoiding the conversion of remaining natural ecosystems to cropland, and Help the world community achieve its commitments in several international agreements, including the three Rio Conventions (climate, biodiversity and desertification), the Sustainable Development Goals and others  Coordinated action among the Rio Conventions The authors call for the UN’s three Rio conventions– UNCCD, CBD and UNFCCC–to unite around shared land and food system goals and encourage the exchange of state-of-the-art knowledge, track progress and  streamline science into more effective policies, all to accelerate  action on the ground.  Land and food systems play a key role in advancing towards the goals and targets of the three conventions and the Sustainable Development Goals, they say.  The authors call on Parties to all three Rio conventions to promote multilateral actions on land and food systems in a coordinated and collaborative manner. UNCCD’s 197 Parties, at their most recent Conference of Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have already adopted a decision on avoiding, reducing and reversing land and soil degradation of agricultural lands.  Additional comments “Land is more than soil and space. It harbors biodiversity, cycles water, stores carbon, and regulates climate. It gives us food, sustains life, and holds deep roots of ancestry and knowledge. Today, over one-third of Earth’s land is used to grow food - feeding a global population of more than 8 billion people. Yet today, modern farming practices, deforestation, and overuse are degrading soil, polluting water, and destroying vital ecosystems. Food production alone drives nearly 20 per cent of global emissions of greenhouse gases. We need to act. To secure a thriving future - and protect land - we must reimagine how we farm, how we live, and how we relate to nature - and to each other. It’s time for land stewardship: to care for the land as a living ally, no longer as a resource to exploit.” Co-author Elisabeth Huber-Sannwald, Professor, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológiva, San Luis Potosí, Mexico “Land degradation is a key factor in forced migration and conflict over resources. Regions that rely heavily on agriculture for livelihoods, especially smallholder farmers, who feed much of the world, are particularly vulnerable. These pressures could destabilize entire regions and amplify global risks.” C0-author Dolors Armenteras, Professor  of Landscape Ecology – Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá “Integrating land and marine food systems is fundamental to achieve food security, enable the restoration of degraded land and maintain healthy populations” Co-author Carlos M. Duarte, Professor of Marine Science, KAUST ****** By the numbers  56 per cent: Projected increase in food production needed by 2050 if we stay on our current path 34 per cent: Portion of Earth’s ice-free land already used for food production, headed to 42 per cent by 2050 21 per cent: Share of global greenhouse gas emissions produced by food systems 80 per cent: Proportion of deforestation driven by food production 70 per cent: Amount of freshwater consumption that goes to agriculture 33 per cent: Fraction of global food that currently goes to waste US$1 trillion: Estimated annual value of food lost or wasted globally 75 per cent: Ambitious target for global food waste reduction by 2050 50 per cent: Proposed portion of degraded land to be restored by 2050 using sustainable land management US $278 billion: Annual funding gap to achieve UNCCD land restoration goals 608 million: Number of farms on the planet 90 per cent: Percentage of all farms under 2 hectares 35 per cent: Share of the world’s food produced by small farms 6.5 billion tons: Potential biomass yield using 650 million hectares of ocean for seaweed farming 17.5 million km²: Estimated cropland area saved if humanity adopts the proposed Rio+ diet (less unsustainably produced red meat, more sustainably sourced seafood and seaweed-derived food products) 166 million: Number of people who could avoid micronutrient deficiencies with more aquatic foods in their diet ******* Bending the curve of land degradation to achieve global environmental goals: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09365-5 Authors Fernando T. Maestre – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia (Lead author)Emilio Guirado – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi ArabiaDolors Armenteras – Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, ColombiaHylke E. Beck – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi ArabiaMashael bint Saud AlShalan – Aeon Collective, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaNoura bint Turki Al-Saud – Aeon Collective, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaRalph Chami – Blue Green Future LLC, Washington D.C., USABojie Fu – Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences & University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaHelene Gichenje – Independent Consultant, Nairobi, KenyaElisabeth Huber-Sannwald – Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, San Luis Potosí, MexicoChinwe Ifejika Speranza – Institute of Geography, University of Bern, SwitzerlandJaime Martínez-Valderrama – Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas, CSIC, Almería, SpainMatthew F. McCabe – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi ArabiaBarron J. Orr – United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Bonn, GermanyTing Tang – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi ArabiaGraciela Metternicht – Western Sydney University, AustraliaMichael Miess – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi ArabiaJames F. Reynolds – Nicholas School of the Environment and Department of Biology, Duke University, USALindsay C. Stringer – University of York, UKYoshihide Wada – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi ArabiaCarlos M. Duarte – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia ******* About KAUST  Established in 2009, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a graduate research university devoted to finding solutions for some of the most pressing scientific and technological challenges in the world as well as Saudi Arabia in the areas of food and health, water, energy, environment and the digital domain.  KAUST is a curiosity-driven, interdisciplinary university. It brings together the best minds from around the world to advance research. More than 120 different nationalities live, work and study on campus. KAUST is also a catalyst for innovation, economic development and social prosperity, with research resulting in novel patents and products, enterprising startups, regional and global initiatives, and collaboration with other academic institutions, industries and Saudi agencies. About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps create wealth, grow economies and secure food, clean water and energy by enabling sustainable land management. The Convention’s 197 parties establish partnerships and robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss. The 16th session of UNCCD’s Conference of the Parties (COP16) was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2024. Mongolia will host UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar from 17-28 August 2026, a major event coinciding with the UN’s International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Delegates from UNCCD Parties, heads of state, ministers, representatives from international organizations, scientific communities, civil society, and the private sector will convene to accelerate action against desertification, land degradation and drought.  

Bonn, Germany, 5 August 2025 – The UNCCD today marks a historic leadership transition as outgoing Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw hands over responsibilities to Yasmine Fouad, former Minister of Environment of Egypt, at the Convention’s secretariat headquarters in Bonn. A Mauritanian national, Thiaw led the UNCCD secretariat since 2019, having served the environment movement for more than 40 years, the last twelve with the United Nations. Under his leadership, the Convention advanced in its mission to protect people and ecosystems by restoring our land and ensuring a safer, just and more sustainable future.  While land degradation and desertification are perceived as insurmountable challenges, the UNCCD has proved that land restoration unlocks multiple solutions. There are few places on earth where this is truer than in Africa’s Sahel, the (greater) Middle East and Central Asia. The UNCCD has thus supported Parties in need develop and carry out large-scale restoration activities, such as the Great Green Wall(s) in Africa or the Middle East Green Initiative. Bringing degraded land back to health generates more food on the table, stabilizes economies and societies, combats climate change and restores water and biodiversity. The G20 Global Land Restoration Initiative also contributes to such effort.  The last four years have seen an awakening in the need for stepped up global efforts to build resilience to increasingly frequent and intense droughts, culminating in the launch of the International Drought Resilience Alliance in 2022 and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership in 2024, backed by strong political and financial commitments. Human face: The mandate of the UNCCD cut across human wellbeing and ecosystem protection in a context of vulnerability or scarcity. In that context, local communities, small holders, youth women and indigenous people have been at the center of the attention. At UNCCD COP16, UNCCD Parties took bold decisions to ensure meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and youth in the Convention’s processes. Advancing women’s land rights has been the focus of the UNCCD’s advocacy work, building on the Convention’s strong record in promoting gender equality. Public-private partnerships:  While commendable progress has been made thanks to public investments, a UNCCD study conducted by the UNCCD in 2024 revealed that investments made by the private sector in land restoration represent just 6 per cent of the total. To mobilize private sector investment in support of land restoration and drought resilience, UNCCD has therefore forged cooperation frameworks with institutions such as the World Economic Forum and launched the Business4Land Initiative. Science-policy dialogue: The UNCCD strives to make decisions and propose policies backed by science. In that context, building a stronger Science-Policy Interface was essential. COP16 gave mandate for a stronger voice of science in decision-making.  Outgoing Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “I’ve witnessed firsthand how degraded land turns into restored landscapes and revived livelihoods—this transformation inspired every step of my journey. I am proud to have led the UNCCD Secretariat in changing the world’s perspective from land as a problem, to land as one of the most powerful solutions for sustainable development. I thank the UNCCD Parties for their support and warmly welcome the next Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad, to whom I entrust a stronger and more inclusive secretariat with renewed momentum.” Yasmine Fouad, who served since 2018 as Egypt’s Environment Minister, brings over more than 25 years of environmental diplomacy experience at the intersection of climate, biodiversity and sustainable development, having chaired CBD COP14 and served as Envoy for UNFCCC COP27, leading negotiations on climate finance and nature-based solutions. Incoming UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad said: “I am deeply honored to take up this mantle and thank my predecessor Ibrahim Thiaw for his invaluable contribution to the Convention and broader sustainable development agenda of the United Nations. Building on UNCCD’s 30-year-strong legacy, I will champion integrated solutions across land, climate and biodiversity and committed to build with all parties and stakeholders ambitious comprehensive post-2030 targets. Together, the UNCCD will deepen partnerships, amplify voices of the most affected and drive bold actions to heal our lands, build resilience to droughts, restore our ecosystems and secure people's futures.” For more information, please contact the UNCCD press office: press@unccd.int – Tel. +49 228 8152859 / +49 173 2680229 About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner. 

In the desert village of Lodhera, Rajasthan, a grassroots environmental initiative has taken shape under the leadership of UNCCD Land for Life Award laureate Professor Shyam Sunder Jyani and Kavita Jyani, co-founder of the Familial Forestry movement. As part of the broader Familial Forestry Mission, the duo has launched the “Plastic-Free Kitchen” campaign—starting with a small but symbolic step: replacing plastic tea strainers with safer alternatives. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the potential health and environmental risks associated with everyday plastic utensils. While scientific consensus on long-term health effects is still evolving, microplastic pollution from common plastic items has become a growing concern worldwide. Items like plastic tea strainers, when exposed to heat, can  degrade over time and contribute to microplastic presence in domestic environments. This local campaign was introduced at a community gathering, where women from Lodhera village pledged to avoid plastic tea strainers in favor of more durable and eco-friendly materials such as stainless steel and natural fibers. Speaking at the event, Kavita Jyani emphasized how behavioral change at the household level can reinforce broader environmental values. “Transforming small habits in our kitchens can help build a culture of sustainability and health,” she said. The plastic-free campaign is closely linked with the Familial Forestry approach, which integrates environmental responsibility into family and community life. A unique concept  developed by Professor Jyani, it treats each planted tree as a green “family member”. Placing the family at the center of environmental stewardship, the concept embeds ecological values into everyday family life.  Since 2006, more than one million families from over 15,000 desert-prone villages in northwest Rajasthan have planted over 2.5 million saplings, with the active participation of students and desert dwellers. Addressing the rally, Professor Jyani spoke about the importance of community-led ecological action and the relevance of native vegetation in addressing climate challenges. “From tree planting to kitchen choices, each decision contributes to a more resilient ecosystem,” he said. The Plastic-Free Kitchen campaign brings a domestic dimension to the broader goals of land conservation and sustainability, aligning closely with UNCCD priorities to promote ecosystem health and sustainable livelihoods. As governments meet in Geneva the week of 4 August for the final round of negotiations on a global plastics treaty, grassroot initiatives like the one in Lodhera highlight the power of community-led action alongside global policymaking. 

The UNCCD is launching a call for expressions of interest to identify qualified representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) and private sector entities to serve on the Steering Committee of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP).This is an opportunity for leading actors in drought resilience, climate adaptation and sustainable land and water management to help shape the strategic direction and governance of a global partnership dedicated to shifting the response to drought from reactive crisis management to proactive risk reduction.About the RGDRPThe RGDRP is the leading international platform focused on advancing global drought resilience. It supports 74 countries—primarily low-income and lower-middle-income economies—in strengthening their capacity to manage and reduce drought risks. The Partnership mobilizes finance, fosters knowledge exchange and promotes inclusive development through its three operational mechanisms: the Readiness Facility, the Investment Facility and the Knowledge Bank.The Steering Committee is the RGDRP’s highest decision-making body. It brings together 12 representatives from UN agencies, donors, beneficiary countries, technical organizations, civil society and the private sector to ensure inclusive, transparent and accountable governance.Who can apply?We are seeking one primary and one alternate representative each from:1. Civil society organizations (CSOs)Eligible applicants include CSOs, NGOs and organizations representing women, youth, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups, accredited to the UNCCD and active in drought resilience or related fields.2. Private sector entitiesEligible applicants include companies, industry associations, or business platforms engaged in climate-smart innovation, sustainable land and water management, blended finance, or public-private partnerships in drought-prone regions.Role and responsibilitiesSelected representatives will:Serve a three-year term (as primary or alternate representative)Participate in two Steering Committee meetings annually (in person or virtually)Contribute to strategic decision-making, investment planning, and policy coordinationRepresent their broader constituency and ensure continuity through the alternate systemHow to applyApplicants must submit a completed application form (choose the appropriate form based on your category from the menu on the right):Applications must be submitted in English by 18 August 2025 to: secretariat@unccd.int and globalmechanism@unccd.intAdditional InformationFor full details, consult the terms of reference of the RGDRP steering committee.We look forward to receiving applications from dynamic, committed actors who are ready to play a meaningful role in advancing global drought resilience.

Excellency Dr. Ibrahim A. Munir, Minister of Environment of Libya, AMCEN President,Excellency Mr. Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Amri, Chair of the Environment Authority of Oman and President of UNEA-7Excellency Mr. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union CommissionDear Zeinab Bangura, Director General of the UN Office at Nairobi,Dear Elizabeth Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP,Fellow Heads of AgenciesExcellencies, Distinguished guests,Dear colleagues,Ladies and Gentlemen, It is fitting to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of AMCEN here today. Indeed, Nairobi is the cradle of so many environmental decisions and policies. Born in Cairo in December 1985, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment was developed and conceived in a room of this very compound of Gigiri, in Nairobi. It is well known that Africa is the youngest continent in the world. In Africa, 40 is a turning point. Between youth and full maturity. Between full power and the beginning of decline. 40 is a respectable age when one becomes a notable figure, someone who is consulted for advice. It is when children, if not already adults, are raised and educated, or at least in the midst of adolescence. Forty is the age of reason, respectability, and responsibility. It is the age when we must pass on the wisdom of initiation and tenderness to a new generation. AMCEN has therefore reached an honourable and respectable age. AMCEN can either take the path towards decline and regret – and no one in this room wants that – or it can soar towards the success that awaits the 1.5 billion Africans whose economy and well-being depend largely on natural resources. We all in this room expect AMCEN to climb the ladder of respectability, proudly passing the baton to the next generation. It can no longer claim the innocence of youth or the stammerings of the novice. Mesdames et Messieurs les Ministres,Il y a de quoi être fier de la CMAE. Depuis sa création, elle a été l’architecte décisif de l'intégration des priorités africaines dans les conférences mondiales : de Rio en 1992, à Paris en 2015, en passant par les COP. À chaque fois que l’Afrique coordonne et raffermit ses 54 voix, elle est écoutée et respectée en dépit de la cacophonie et de la complexité du système multilatéral. Toutefois, force est de reconnaître que des progrès restent encore à faire dans beaucoup de domaines. L’Afrique doit davantage rechercher la cohérence entre ses positions dans différentes négociations internationales. Les différents Groupes des Négociateurs africains ont des ancrages quelque peu sectoriels, voire dispersés. AMCEN doit rechercher à davantage harmoniser les positions africaines concernant les COP Climat, Biodiversité, Désertification, Pollution etc…Les points à l’ordre du jour des sessions de AMCEN doivent refléter cette recherche de cohérence. Quant à l’Union africaine, elle devrait élargir le mandat du Président en exercice du CAHOSC , afin que le comité des chefs d’état Africains intègre toutes les priorités environnementales de l’Afrique à savoir le climat, la dégradation des terres, la biodiversité et d’une manière générale la protection de la nature. Pour un continent dont l’économie dépend largement du secteur primaire, nous pensons en effet que l’Union africaine et AMCEN devraient faire figurer les questions des terres et la protection de la nature encore plus haut dans les priorités des Chefs d’Etat africains . L’Union africaine et AMCEN devraient donc promouvoir un CAHOSC plus inclusif. « La pluie ne tombe jamais sur un seul toit », dit un proverbe Camerounais, sonnant comme un rappel puissant que le Président du CAHOSC -représentant plénipotentiaire des Chefs d’Etats africains- ne saurait être cantonné à un seul sujet, aussi important soit-il que le climat.Mesdames et messieurs, Avant de conclure, permettez moi de rendre un vibrant hommage à tous ces pionniers, ministres, directeurs généraux et experts africains. Ils ont travaillé dans des conditions très difficiles, à l’ère du télex, du téléfax et du télégramme, au moment où relier deux sous-régions africaines relevait d’une véritable odyssée, pour nous léguer une fondation aussi solide. Pour ma part, je termine ma mission à la tête de UNCCD. J’ai tenu à faire de AMCEN@40 ma dernière mission officielle en cette capacité. Ce fut plus un énorme honneur de servir l’humanité pour cette noble cause. Je puis également vous dire que je n’ai, à aucun moment, perdu de vue mes fières origines, fortement ancrées dans les profondeurs des terres africaines. Je vous confie deux de mes convictions intimes : 1. la solution (du développement durable) viendra des terres, mais aussi des cœurs.2. L’Afrique offre une clé des solutions climatiques de demain. A nous de saisir la balle au bond. Je vous laisse avec cette phrase inspirée de feu Wangari Maathai, cette digne fille d’Afrique avec qui j’ai eu le privilège de coopérer et d’apprécier pendant mon séjour au Kenya:« L’environnement et l’économie sont deux faces d’une même pièce. Si nous ne protégeons pas le premier, nous perdrons les deux »Joyeux Anniversaire, AMCEN !Asante sana

Land degradation and drought are fueling a hidden health crisis – but we still have time to act. When we speak of desertification or drought, we often think of dry rivers, cracked soil and failed harvests. But there is another, less visible toll - one that strikes deep into the lungs, hearts and daily lives of the world’s most vulnerable people. A new policy brief from the UNCCD reveals the far-reaching health impacts of land degradation and drought — and it delivers a stark message: the health of the planet and the health of people are inseparable. Around the world, land is deteriorating at an alarming pace. Between 2015 and 2019, more than 100 million hectares of productive land were lost each year. That’s an area roughly the size of Egypt — gone annually. This degradation doesn’t just threaten biodiversity and food production. It destabilizes communities, weakens immune systems and increases the spread of disease. The damage is particularly acute in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia, where fragile ecosystems support large and growing populations. As land dries out or is stripped of its fertility, the impact cascades: water becomes scarce, crops fail, dust storms multiply and health systems buckle under the strain. And the data is clear. In drylands — which already cover more than 40 per cent of the Earth’s surface — rates of malnutrition, respiratory illness and waterborne disease are rising. Children are particularly at risk. Malnutrition, stunting and underweight are now among the top drivers of childhood disease burden globally.  In places like Zambia, droughts have pushed up food prices, leaving pregnant mothers undernourished and babies born weaker.  In parts of South America, dust from degraded soil increases the risk of respiratory illness and exposure to infectious diseases. In Australia, prolonged drought has been linked to rising levels of anxiety, depression and rural suicide. This is not a coincidence. These are complex, systemic failures driven by the intertwined forces of environmental degradation and climate change. The UNCCD brief lays out how drought, land degradation and desertification — collectively referred to as DLDD — contribute to a spectrum of public health challenges, ranging from infectious diseases like cholera, malaria and even HIV, to chronic conditions such as asthma and cardiovascular disease. Poor air quality from wildfires and sandstorms, unsafe water due to reduced availability and contamination and disrupted food systems all contribute to rising illness and mortality. What’s more, DLDD increases the risk of emerging zoonotic diseases — illnesses transmitted from animals to humans — by disturbing ecosystems and bringing humans into closer contact with disease reservoirs. This is how Ebola spreads. This is how pandemics begin. It’s critical that we connect the dots: land degradation, desertification, and drought are not just environmental issues — they directly impact human health,” says Dr. Barron Joseph Orr, UNCCD Chief Scientist.  “The good news is that by restoring land and managing drought proactively, we can reduce health risks, strengthen communities and improve lives."The solution, the brief argues, lies in breaking these dangerous feedback loops. This requires more than restoring land or investing in health. It demands a radical rethinking of how we govern the relationship between ecosystems and wellbeing. The UNCCD calls for integrated, cross-sectoral responses — ones that recognize land not as a passive backdrop to human life, but as a living, dynamic system on which health depends. That means reorienting land use planning, agricultural policies and environmental management to include health as a central concern. It means empowering communities with tools and knowledge to respond to climate threats. It means supporting women and girls, who often carry the greatest burdens — collecting water, caring for the sick, or suffering silently from the physical and mental toll of degraded environments. “We have to realize that human health is closely linked with the health of our land and our ecosystems. The quality of the food we produce from healthy soil is akin to a pharmacy. says Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. "This is a call to all sectors — from health to agriculture to finance — to come together and build resilience where it matters most: in our soil, in our systems, and in our communities.” The brief also emphasizes the need to implement the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health and to strengthen the One Health approach — which sees the health of people, animals and ecosystems as deeply interlinked. The benefits of action far outweigh the costs, the brief stresses. From reduced hospital admissions to increased agricultural resilience, the returns on investing in land-health synergy are profound. Time, however, is running short. As climate extremes intensify and drylands expand, more communities will be pushed beyond their coping capacity. Unless we act, the health consequences of inaction will grow — quietly, inexorably and with devastating effects. The UNCCD stands ready to support countries in this effort — by providing the data, guidance and partnerships needed to develop integrated responses, empower the most vulnerable and restore the health of the land so that people, too, can thrive. Because when the land gets sick, so do we.