Dried rivers, denuded forests, dead livestock, malnourished children, disempowered populations鈥攖hese are just some of the harrowing images the media routinely depict about Africa.听
Indeed, land degradation, desertification, and drought are causes for concern. Yet we know that the continent鈥檚听,听,听, and rivers represent the promise of restoration.
Peatlands, for example, can store extensive amounts of carbon for centuries if protected. Grasslands, often viewed us unproductive wastelands, are important storehouses for carbon and a livelihood resource for pastoral communities, useful for grazing of wild and domestic species.听
Forests are important carbon sinks too. If degraded and lost, they can also become huge greenhouse emitters.听
Land degradation is a global issue
Land quality is in decline worldwide. Global assessments show that听, putting half of the world鈥檚 population at risk.听
Degraded lands and soils lose their ability to support animal and plant life. They cannot provide water, food, or protect against the impacts of droughts, floods, fires, or even diseases like COVID-19.听
People are chiefly responsible for this predicament. Humans have converted or transformed 70 per cent of the world鈥檚 land from its natural state, to 鈥渕anaged lands.鈥� Animal grazing represents the single largest听, followed by managed forestland and cropland.听
In听听Europe,听25 per cent, an equivalent of 120,000km2, of peatlands are reported degraded, and听, risking desertification for 25 per cent of southern Europe.听
Soil quality in the听United States听has degenerated so significantly that farmers there spend an听听to maintain world dominance as the largest producers of maize and other crops.听
In听central Asia, extraction of water for agricultural purposes, has reduced the Aral Sea from the fourth largest lake in the world听听devastating livelihoods and economies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. A similar future may be facing Lake Chad in听West Africa.
Declining forests
Forests across the planet听. Most of those in dire state are in听, such as the Amazon in Brazil and Latin America; in Indonesia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia; and in Congo in Central Africa.
Wildfires and logging听听tree loss in the boreal and temperate forests of听Russia听and North America. Co-opted for agriculture,听,听which cover 24 per cent of the earth鈥檚 surface, are at serious risk.听
Climatologists refer to land degradation occurring in drylands as desertification and point to human activity鈥攐verexploiting of soil and water resources鈥攁nd climate change as culprits.听
Drought often accompanies desertification, affecting more than 55 million people worldwide every year, especially the poor in low-income countries.听
Desertification, land degradation, and drought affect sub-Saharan Africa more than any single region on earth. Asia is a close second. These regions, most of them poor rural communities, made up of small-scale farmers, women, youth, indigenous peoples, and other at-risk groups, are under immense pressure to feed themselves.
鈥淏y supporting Africa鈥檚 initiatives, such as its commitments to reversing land degradation, abating desertification, bending the curve on greenhouse gas emissions, and halting the extinction of wild species, the world also stands to benefit鈥�
Reason for hope
Under听听- on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification鈥攁nd other voluntary initiatives, the world agreed, through pledges and commitments, to听.听
UN member states have also declared 2021-2030 the听. This is trigging a global movement and fuelling momentum for restoration and sustainable land management.听
Sub-Saharan African countries are responsible for almost half of global restoration commitments and pledges. Many of them have made commitments under the Land Degradation Neutrality framework and听.听
African countries are focused on protecting and restoring natural areas and on managing and rehabilitating lands that have been converted largely for agriculture and forestry. Africa also promised to听听through the Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative鈥攁 bold objective, given the magnitude of the challenge of greening over 100 million hectares of desert and degraded land.听
There are officially 11 African countries participating in GGW. So far听听are said to have contributed the most to GGW, largely through tree planting/reforestation, soil and water conservation, and farmer-managed natural regeneration. 听
Ironically, Africa holds the best solutions for moving the world towards a secure climate-resilient future but faces the toughest challenges. The continent has the听youngest population, the largest amount of听arable land, and the听greatest potential for restoration, and it already听hosts a quarter of the global stock of wildlife populations.听
Yet, Africa houses the poorest people who are most vulnerable to climate and environmental stress. It also lacks the political muscle to secure enough financing for needed restoration and adaptation measures.听
Estimates, for example, show it will take between $36 billion and $43 billion to restore the Sahel, which is far more money than the听
For the world to restore its degraded lands and ecosystems, Africa must succeed.听It must start by building livelihoods and defeating poverty.听
听estimates that fulfilling current global restoration commitments will require $1.6 trillion over 10 years. A 2015 study of 42 African countries showed that听听on 105 million hectares of croplands, between 2016 and 2030, could yield as much as $62.4 billion per year. Globally, researchers estimate potential economic returns as high as听鈥攎uch more than it will cost.听
In the global battle against climate change and biodiversity loss, Africa鈥檚 success is crucial. By supporting Africa鈥檚 initiatives, such as its commitments to reversing land degradation, abating desertification, bending the curve on greenhouse gas emissions, and halting the extinction of wild species, the world also stands to benefit.听
Ms. Kgomotso is a听Senior Technical Advisor in Sustainable Land Management and Restoration on the UNDP鈥檚 Nature, Climate and Energy Team. She is based in Istanbul.听