All publications and documents

This WOCAT Policy Brief explores the issues behind sand and dust storms in Iceland and sustainable land management efforts to reduce impacts on the coastal harbor of Thorlákshöfn. The policy brief also touches on the possible longer term impacts of efforts to control sand and dust events on environment,…

Water scarcity is already widespread and remains on the rise: it is found in nearly every region in the world. Around 36% of the world’s population is currently living in water-scarce regions. This publication shows that avoiding, reducing and reversing land degradation have positive long-term gains in water security. As land degradation and water scarcity are closely linked, and water is the…

The US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report Effectiveness and Impacts of Dust Control Measures for Owens Lake provides a detailed review of SDS methods used to control dust from Owens Lake in California, USA.A need to control dust from Owens Lake originated from the diversion of water from the Owens Lake basin to Los Angeles leading to Owens Lake becoming a…

Dust emission from cropland and rangeland is problematic in many areas, particularly where dry conditions and high wind velocities exist. Producers and specialists need a resource with in-depth solutions to specific dust and wind erosion problems. This handbook is intended for resource managers in USDA and other land management agencies who are struggling with dust challenges and…

The report “Land Degradation Neutrality for Biodiversity Conservation: How Healthy Land Safeguards Nature” highlights how LDN can address the priorities of both the CBD and the UNCCD in an effective and complementary manner. According to the report, LDN and the CBD’s 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity have multiple mutual objectives aimed at promoting the sustainable use of natural…

Land degradation and biodiversity loss are among the most pressing environmental challenges facing humanity. Land degradation has reduced the productivity of nearly one-quarter of the global land surface, impacted the wellbeing of about 3.2 billion people and cost about 10% of annual global gross domestic product in lost ecosystem services. An estimated 23% of total anthropogenic greenhouse…