“Land degradation is emerging as one of the major global environmental issues of our time,” writes Gustavo A B da Fonseca from the Global Environment Facility in the Huffington Post on the World Day to Combat Desertification.

Land degradation is the result of unsustainable land use practices and inadequate or ineffective land use policies. Around 2 billion hectares of land (an area slightly larger than Australia) are already affected by land degradation.

With the world’s population growing and agricultural output needing to increase, expanding the land area under food production using current cultivation methods simply will not work, says da Fonseca. He points to examples where improved land management practices are not just securing food and other products, but safeguarding ecosystem services.

“In the Sahel, millions of hectares have been regenerated by smallholder farmers practicing agroforestry, soil and water conservation, soil fertility management, and sustainable forest management.” In the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa, the leguminous tree, Fadherbia albida, is helping to improve soil fertility.

The Great Green Wall initiative, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank, aims to protect the Sahel from desertification and the effects of climate change. More than just a tree planting program, the initiative is addressing productivity in crop, livestock and forest landscapes.

Read the full story: Land Degradation: A Pathway to Nourishing the Future Is Found in Africa

Find out more about the World Day to Combat Desertification