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Best practices in sustainable land management

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Examples from the SPI report

In 2017, UNCCD’s Science Policy Interface (SPI) published a report  showcasing several dozen examples of individual sustainable land management (SLM) best practices selected from scientific journal articles, research papers and SLM databases (including WOCAT). This information is categorised by land use type and technology group. 

The WOCAT global database on SLM

The WOCAT database is one of the largest SLM global databases. The database contains more than 2,180 SLM practices from 130 countries, in twelve different languages, including best practices reported by UNCCD Parties. 

Best practice examples
Land reclamation by agave forestry with native species

Native trees, shrubs and grasses planted through participatory action. One part of the agave is planted in continuous lines to create a green wall to control soil and water runoff and the other part is planted in staggered. In addition, other native plants are planted between the lines of agave, to be used as food, fodder and/or medicinal products.

Afforestation/Reforestation
Forest/Woodland
Land reclamation by agave forestry with native species
Area closure and reforestation

Protection and reforestation of degraded arid lands in central and southern Tunisia using native tree species able to tolerate extreme droughts and persist on the edge of the Sahara desert. The purpose of afforestation is the rehabilitation of degraded drylands and restoration of the original forest-steppe ecosystem in the Bled Talah region, which suffered for over a century from over-exploitation of natural resources and intensification of agricultural activities. A national park was created in 1980 covering an area of approximately 16,000 ha, with three integral protection zones, two agricultural zones and two buffer zones. Note: For this SLM technology case, the SPI report on Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change, refers to: Murthy, I.K., Alipuria, A.K. and Ravindranath, N.H. 2012. Potential for increasing carbon sink in Himachal Pradesh, India. Tropical Ecology 53(3), 357-369, and Agrawal, A.. 1996. Reforestation in Ecuador’s Dry Forest. Desert Plants, pp 12-14. 

Afforestation/Reforestation
Forest/Woodland
Grazing land
Area closure and reforestation
Reintroduction of forest cover after wildfires

Afforestation activities, led by the government, after a fire that resulted in the loss of 33’000 ha of forests, strong erosion processes and hindered vegetation regrowth. A machine was used to open a planting hole and cover it again, which loosened the soil. Seedlings of Pinus Halepensis were planted manually and arranged linearly. The afforested area covered around 100 ha (not continuously), while other forest areas grew naturally. The main purpose of afforestation was to reduce soil erosion by planting trees, which increases soil stability and enables forest regrowth. Other purposes included improving the potential wood extraction in the future and improving the visual landscape.

Afforestation/Reforestation
Forest/Woodland
Reintroduction of forest cover after wildfires