According to the latest report from the United Nations, land degradation is costing the global agricultural sector around 5% of its GDP annually. This alarming figure highlights the urgent need to address the economic and social consequences of land degradation and promote sustainable land management practices worldwide.
The second scientific meeting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification took place in Bonn, Germany, on the 9th. The conference released a detailed report showing that the economic impact of land degradation varies significantly across regions. In Africa, up to 12% of agricultural GDP is lost due to land degradation, while in Guatemala, the loss reaches as high as 24%. These figures underline the severity of the issue and the need for targeted solutions.
Beyond the economic toll, land degradation also has serious social consequences. Approximately 870 million people globally suffer from chronic hunger, with many affected by declining agricultural productivity. In Uzbekistan, food production has dropped by 20% to 30% due to land degradation. Meanwhile, the 2011 drought in East Africa led to emergency food aid reaching nearly 3.7 million people, highlighting the far-reaching effects of environmental decline.
In 1992, the United Nations estimated annual direct economic losses from desertification and land degradation at $42 billion. However, Luc Nyakaja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, pointed out that these early assessments were limited and did not fully account for indirect losses, such as long-term impacts on communities and ecosystems.
The second scientific meeting, which concluded on the 12th, aimed to provide a more thorough understanding of desertification’s economic and social costs. By focusing on sustainable land management and building resilience in dry areas, the conference sought to equip policymakers with better tools to combat land degradation and support sustainable development. Nyakaja emphasized the importance of raising awareness about drought and its impacts, with the ultimate goal of preventing further land degradation and restoring degraded soils.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is one of the three key environmental agreements established under Agenda 21, adopted during the 1992 Earth Summit. Based in Bonn, Germany, the convention became operational in 1996 to assist countries struggling with desertification and drought in their efforts to restore land, reduce the effects of dryness, and achieve long-term sustainability.
Globe Valves,Stainless Steel Threaded Globe Valves,Npt Threaded Globe Valve,Bspt Threaded Globe Valve
ZHITONG PIPE VALVE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD , https://www.ztongvalve.com