The purpose of this publication aimed at estimating soil degradation in Latin America and to analyze scenarios and vulnerabilities to climate change in the field of soil degradation. Furthermore, it presents an inventory by country of relevant development policies, plans and instruments and an inventory of measures to
counter soil degradation caused by climate change. The study found that 34,5% (6,9 million km2) of the area
of Latin America were arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid zones with different degrees of desertification: 49% (9,8 million km2) have water erosion risk. The loss of forests by deforestation affects 6,5% (1,3 million km2). 56,3% (11,2 million km2) show chemical degradation. The climate change analysis under the A2 emissions scenario forecasts the following: 20,8% (4,1 million km2) of the region will be more arid. 1,5% (298 thousand km2) will have a more humid regime.
Very high vulnerability is estimated for 1,6 million km2 (8%), and high and medium vulnerability for 6 and 2,6 million km2 respectively (12,9% and 30,2%). With the A2 scenario, vulnerability will increase for arid and semi-arid areas, affecting 26,3% (5,3 million km2).