All publications and documents

Recent research and debates on land degradation have put a spotlight on the role of industrial agriculture and unsustainable management of cropland and grazing land as key drivers of land degradation. The findings of the IPBES assessment report on Land Degradation and Restoration show that ‘the main direct drivers of land degradation and associated biodiversity loss are expansion of crop and…

A call to action: 20 interventions that will matter. The report’s Call to Action identifies 20 points where interventions can create transformative and accelerated progress towards multiple goals and targets in the coming decade. These targeted actions are based on the recent scientific literature analysing the deeper systemic interconnections that identify synergies and trade-offs between…

This briefing note explores the linkages between land degradation, poverty and inequality, making the case that investing in Land Degradation Neutrality (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 15.3) matters not only for the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, but also for some of the most pressing country priorities, such as ending poverty (SDG 1) and reducing inequality (SDG 10).…

In Europe, extensive desertification processes are occurring both in the Mediterranean and in central and eastern European countries. Europe will be affected by a rise in drought conditions and/or heavy precipitation events, thus enhancing the risk of future desertification processes. A study published in Spain showed that, as a consequence of the expected changes in aridity, the…

The world’s leading climate science organizations have joined forces to produce a landmark new report for the United Nations Climate Action Summit, underlining the glaring – and growing gaps – between agreed targets to tackle global warming and the actual reality. The report, United in Science, includes details on the state of the climate and presents trends in the emissions and…

Over two years in the making, the Special Report on Climate Change and Landexplores how the way we use our land contributes to climate change and how climate change affects our land. It follows the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºCreleased in October 2018. The full title reflects the breadth of the report, which covers: greenhouse gas fluxes related to land; interactions…