It’s World Environment Day; a time to raise awareness on global environmental problems while taking action to protect and restore the planet. This year’s observance focuses on Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience under the slogan “Our land, our future. We are#GenerationRestoration”. Land degradation is one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges that threatens land quality, food production and endangers the well being of both the present and future generations. It is considered as the single greatest cause of terrestrial biodiversity. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC asserts that land degradation accounts for about 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Degraded land releases stored carbon into the environment thereby contributing to climate change.
Extreme weather conditions, increasing deforestation, technological advancement, industrialisation and unsustainable agricultural practices are among the causes of land degradation. About 40% of the planet’s land is already degraded, directly affecting half of the world’s population. Degraded land impacts food security, water availability and ecosystem health. The United Nation is of the view that while we cannot turn back time, we can grow forests, revive water sources and bring back soil.
The call for generative restoration is an urgent one and transcends borders and generations. It involves reviving natural processes and promoting sustainability practices. There are great ways of positively impacting our climate. These include; advocacy, sustainable land management techniques, waste reduction via circular economy principles and development of sustainable and scalable agricultural methods. In addition, key drivers of land degradation, such as climate change must be stopped.
Land degradation is spreading at an alarming rate and if nothing is done,drought will most definitely affect more than half of the world’s population.Through land restoration, a nature positive, net-zero future and healthy ecosystem can be secured. The time to act is now! Let’s make peace with this irreplaceable resource in order to ensure a thriving future for our planet.