With an expected 9.5 billion people living on earth by 2050, population pressure, higher consumer expectations and climate change will tax and degrade our natural resource base, especially the land. Land degradation puts the livelihoods of billions of people at risk. It threatens the future sustainability of the entire planet. Land degradation is not a stand-alone issue however. It is closely linked to job creation, food and water security, migration and urbanization, climate change mitigation and adaptation, economic competition and resource conflict. From the local to the global level, efforts to create healthy and resilient landscapes are being increasingly recognized as crucial for economic growth and prosperity. in fact, healthy terrestrial ecosystems can contribute significantly to the delivery of multiple,priority developmental goals.