Technologies & approaches

Sustainable land management (SLM) aims to integrate socio-economic principles. These principles refer to the use of land resources – including soils, water and plants – for the production of goods to meet human needs whilst ensuring the long-term productive potential of land resources.  

SLM uses technologies such as mulch tillage, approaches such as sustainable forestry, practices such as rainwater harvesting, or a combination of these. 

The design of practical SLM solutions depend on the local environmental, socio-economic and cultural context. As there is no one-size-fits-all approach, each local context requires an assessment of the most appropriate ways to achieve SLM.  

Organizations and global initiatives supporting SLM, such as WOCAT, the World Bank, and TerraAfrica, have a wealth of information on how to apply and adapt different SLM technologies to meet different needs. 

UNCCD’s mandate involves sharing best practices on sustainable land management. Policy makers, researchers, land users, and other stakeholders interested in land management may consult the resources on these pages to find practical information on SLM best practices to support their own SLM planning and implementation. You can find many examples of SLM practices by context (SLM land use types) or type (SLM technology groups).