Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in the context of WOCAT is defined as the use of land resources, including soils, water, animals and plants, for the production of goods to meet changing human needs, while simultaneously ensuring the long-term productive potential of these resources and the maintenance of their environmental functions. The ultimate goal of this exercise is to improve the effectiveness of SLM by analysing field experience. To achieve this, we need to obtain a better understanding of the reasons behind successful experience with SLM – be it introduced by projects or found in traditional systems. Within SLM WOCAT focuses mainly on efforts to prevent and reduce land degradation through conservation technologies and their implementation approaches. It is necessary to analyse not only so-called “successful” examples, but also those which may be considered – at least partially – a failure.