United Nations – Land plays a key role in the climate system as an essential carbon sink because its surfaces, such as forests, regulate the planet’s temperature and help to store carbon. Unfortunately, up to 40% of the world’s land surface has been degraded including 30% of its cropland and 10% of its pastureland.
But our land is under increasing pressure from deforestation, urbanization, and unsustainable farming practices that are undermining its ability to sustain food production, maintain freshwater and forest resources, as well as regulate the climate and air quality.
The good news is that there are ways to improve land degradation through restoration and sustainable land management practices to regulate local climate patterns, improve water quality, and safeguard biodiversity.
