Is land degradation the world’s most underreported problem? Our planet’s landscapes and seascapes are losing their ability to sustain us – and yet, you’ll scarcely hear a word about it outside of climate and environmental circles.
Yet there are plenty of opportunities to stave off that degradation: by restoring degraded landscapes. Here are five facts you should know about landscape restoration, plus a few of our favorite restoration reads to get you acquainted with the topic.
Up to 40 percent of the Earth’s land has already been degraded, directly affecting about half of the world’s population and putting half of the global economy at risk. If we don’t act now, another area of land the size of South America could become degraded by 2050.
In this article, we run through some of the startling conclusions from the most comprehensive report on land degradation ever written – and what we can do about it now.
Governments face relentless (and often justified) criticism for not doing enough to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. But even here, there’s still hope: in July, the European Parliament passed a law that will require the restoration of 20 percent of the E.U.’s land and sea areas by 2030.
And the E.U. isn’t alone: here are five more policies introduced this year that aim to protect nature.
There’s no restoring the planet without rethinking our food systems, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and a key driver of biodiversity loss.
That’s where regenerative agriculture comes in. Here’s all you need to know about this trendy yet mysterious term, including what it means, how it can benefit us, and how we can get the best out of it.
If we want restoration to succeed, we must ensure that it’s not only rooted in the latest science and technology but also co-led by Indigenous and rural communities who live off the land. That’s because no one knows landscapes better than the people who have lived there for centuries or even longer.
So, here are two views from our Restoration Stewards on the ground: one working with Indigenous youth to rebuild food sovereignty in the Philippines, and another harnessing the wisdom of Kenyan elders to save the country’s mangroves.
A lot of the talk around restoration revolves around forests, given the vast amounts of carbon they store, as well as the fact that they’re under threat virtually everywhere.
It’s clear that we need to end deforestation and bring back the forests that have already been lost – but how? In this five-part series, we dive into five main ways to reforest the Earth, from natural regeneration to agroforestry.
To learn more, register here for the Restoration Experiences Digital Forum (21 November). The event will be held fully online and is free for everyone.
Finally…
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