What is desertification and why is it important to understand? Desertification is a type of land degradation in which an already relatively dry land area becomes increasingly arid, degrading productive soil and losing its bodies of water, biodiversity and vegetation cover It is driven by a combination of factors, including climate change, deforestation, overgrazing and unsustainable agricultural practices
How can we fight desertification? | World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests
Dont treat it like dirt – healthy soil boosts resilience World Soil Day, observed annually on 5 December, is an important reminder that we cannot continue to treat soil like dirt – healthy soil is both life and a lifeline But soil’s true value remains under-represented in global policy and investment decisions This year, amid cascading climate, food and water shocks, soil must be recognized for what it is: a cornerstone of global resilience
Why tackling land degradation is a priority for business Some 40% of Earth’s land is already degraded, with an additional 100 million hectares of productive lands being degraded each year due to human activity COP16 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification aims to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030, including restoring 1 5 billion hectares of land Businesses need to integrate and scale land-positive practices into their operations
Land degradation: investing in land is a business imperative | World . . . In December, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, COP16, will bring together world leaders, business, NGOs and civil society The conference will highlight how drought, desertification and land degradation threaten our ecosystems and economies Here we showcase the economic case for corporate investment in land to protect supply chains