Land degradation refers to the process that strips fertile land of its vitality. This issue is closely linked to the climate crisis and the decline in biodiversity.
It not only contributes to the global environmental challenges we encounter but is also intensified by them.
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Land degradation transcends national boundaries. It is occurring worldwide for various reasons across nearly all climates and regions. The consequences are extensive, affecting food and water security, diminishing food quality, harming public health, and leading to forced migration.
The upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, serves as a global platform for advocating land restoration and enhancing drought resilience. Its ambitious objective is to rehabilitate 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030.
Here are five facts you may not be aware of regarding the soil beneath us and the role of UNDP in its preservation.
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FACT 1
Topsoil is the Earth's invaluable, nutrient-dense outer layer, typically ranging from five to eight centimeters in depth, though it can extend up to one meter. It acts as a carbon sink, absorbing approximately 30 percent of carbon emissions resulting from human activities. In November 2021, Uzbekistan experienced its most severe dust storm since records began in 1871.
UNDP collaborates with the government in the Surkhandarya region, which borders Afghanistan, to engage Afghan refugees and local communities in a significant reforestation initiative aimed at planting one billion trees, thereby providing employment opportunities for both locals and refugees.
UNDP
Edited:Bosman