Land degradation is costing far more than restoring: UN deputy chief

Land degradation is costing far more than restoring, according to Amina J. Mohammed, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, during her address at the high-level opening of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Speaking at the ministerial dialogue on drought resilience, Ms. Mohammed emphasized the urgent need for nations to shift from isolated restoration efforts toward comprehensive national strategies supported by stable funding and inclusive governance. She highlighted that up to 40 percent of global land is degraded, undermining food security and livelihoods, while droughts have grown in both frequency and duration by 29 percent since 2000. By 2050, as many as three out of every four people could face the consequences of this crisis. The UNCCD meeting, known as COP17, brought together representatives from nearly 196 member states to discuss measures against desertification and land degradation. Over 70 countries have created national drought plans with the assistance of the UNCCD, yet the challenge lies in securing the necessary financial backing to bring these plans to life. Ms. Mohammed pointed out that countries should not be required to draft plans without the means to execute them. She argued that financing must be pre-established to align with national priorities, stressing that healthy land is essential economic infrastructure rather than just an environmental concern. In a separate session focused on finance, Ms. Mohammed outlined a significant shortfall in global investment for land restoration. Current annual investments amount to approximately $77 billion, falling well short of the $355 billion required yearly. The cost of inaction, she warned, exceeds $878 billion annually. Conversely, investing in land restoration could yield around $1.8 trillion in annual benefits, with each dollar returning between $7 and $30. Healthy land, she explained, supports agriculture, sustains ecosystems, and underpins economies. Degradation leads to reduced crop yields, rising food costs, and increased strain on water and energy systems. Drought exacerbates these issues, prompting governments to allocate more funds for emergency aid, subsidies, and rebuilding, while simultaneously losing tax revenue and increasing public debt. To counter these challenges, Ms. Mohammed recommended integrating land and drought resilience into national development and fiscal policies. She advocated for reforms in subsidies that promote unsustainable farming methods and suggested exploring innovative financial tools such as green bonds and drought insurance. Multilateral development banks were also urged to leverage mechanisms like guarantees and concessional loans to draw in private sector investment, especially benefiting small-scale farmers and local enterprises. One successful model cited was Africa's Great Green Wall initiative. This project has restored over 20 million hectares of land, with an additional five million hectares regenerated by farmers in Niger alone. Originally conceived as a line of trees across the Sahel region, the initiative has expanded into a broader African-led strategy that connects land restoration with job creation, food security, and economic growth. In regions like the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, where conflicts and instability further complicate matters, restoring land can provide communities with renewed opportunities and a sense of belonging, potentially contributing to long-term peace and stability. Ms. Mohammed also underscored the importance of involving local communities, farmers, pastoralists, and others, who manage the land in shaping restoration efforts. She noted that empowering these groups ensures that restoration initiatives reflect their needs and secure their rights over the land they cultivate. This approach recognizes that sustainable land management begins with people and their ability to shape their own futures.