Open AccessAn Overview of Land Degradation and Sustainable Land Management in the Near East and North Africa
Author(s) -
F. M. Ziadat,
P. Zdruli,
S. Christiansen,
L. Caon,
M. Abdel Monem,
T. Fetsi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
sustainable agriculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-0518
pISSN - 1927-050X
DOI - 10.5539/sar.v11n1p11
Subject(s) - land degradation , desertification , business , food security , sustainable land management , land management , natural resource economics , population , agriculture , land use , livelihood , gross domestic product , agricultural economics , environmental planning , environmental resource management , geography , economic growth , environmental science , economics , ecology , civil engineering , demography , archaeology , sociology , engineering , biology
Land degradation and desertification (LDD) and climate change are having increased effects in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) impacting the livelihoods of about 410 million people. Agriculture is a vital sector, contributing on average 14% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (excluding oil producing countries) and providing jobs and incomes for 38% of the region’s economically active population. Nevertheless, most NENA countries import at least 50% of the calories they consume. Furthermore, it is estimated that the total area that is desertified or is vulnerable to desertification cover 9.84 million km2 or about 86.7% of the total NENA region. Soil erosion by water, wind, and sand and dust storms (SDS) cause losses of about USD 13 billion of GDP each year. To confront these hardships, the region must endorse proper land use planning, prioritization of target areas for restoration and adoption of sustainable land and water management (SLWM) to reverse the situation. This paper analyses the inter-linkages between LDD, resource base management and food security under different scenarios and offers mitigation and remediation options. These include knowledge management and sharing; establishment of a regional platform to facilitate dialogue; public and private investment opportunities; provision of tools to scale-out sustainable land and water management options; and creation of a conducive enabling environment supported by policies and strategies. The paper provides policy and decision-makers with priority actions and options to enhance productivity, and combat land degradation to improve food security in the region.