Land Degradation Neutrality in the World’s Rangelands: Contemporary Approaches to Old Problems Using New Solutions

Document Type : Review and Full Length Article

Authors

1 Ecology and Resources Group, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou

2 ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute

3 Department of Range Management, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd

Abstract

It is very easy to view land degradation and desertification as purely biophysical phenomena for which there are neat technological solutions. Yet millions of real people live in the affected lands, and they both cause land degradation and are impacted by it, so scientists and land managers need to find a good balance between reductionist rigor and societal applicability. The concept of Land Degradation Neutral World (LDN) offered great promise. The operationalization of it is more challenging. We must recognize the consequences of past inaction on land degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss. Land degradation plays a key role in this ‘vicious triangle’ of threats to our sustainability. The LDN agenda provides a framework and commitment to it by all nations affected by land degradation is the key to successful outcomes by 2030. Adoption of the idea and implementation of measures could lead to reaching Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals that was agreed in 2015 but it won’t be easy and there is an obligation for the richer nations to provide financial and technical support to Affected Party countries. This paper is about rangelands and their management now and into the future. Specifically, it will focus on the philosophy underpinning the notion of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). More particularly it will consider the barriers to implementing the measures that will be necessary if LDN is to achieve its global goal by 2030 and analyze the outcomes of several UNCCD-led pilot studies.

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 May 2021
  • Revise Date: 05 September 2021
  • Accept Date: 05 September 2021
  • First Publish Date: 05 September 2021

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