Land degradation and drought are silently eroding human health. Each year, an Egypt‑sized swath of fertile land is lost, fuelling malnutrition, respiratory disease and the spread of infections from cholera to Ebola. Drylands—already 40  per cent of Earth—see rising child stunting, dust‑borne illness and mental‑health crises as crops fail and water disappears. The brief urges governments to treat land as a health asset, embed ‘One Health’ thinking in agriculture, finance and planning, empower communities—especially women—and restore ecosystems before climate extremes push societies beyond their limits. Protect soil, it concludes, to protect people and secure healthier futures globally.