Suggested:
In the Arab region, more than 46 million hectares of agricultural land are at risk; globally, 1.66 billion hectares of land have been degraded by human activity. More than 60% of this is agricultural land.
In the Arab region, more than 46 million hectares of agricultural land are at risk, with a staggering 1.66 billion hectares of land worldwide degraded by human activity. Over 60% of this land is agricultural.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has raised concerns for the Arabian Peninsula, where soil degradation, the significant deterioration of its condition, has reached alarming levels.
The FAO highlights the results of a study it conducted, revealing that over 46 million hectares of agricultural land in the Arab region are at risk. This accounts for two-thirds of the total area affected by human-induced damage.
The FAO estimates that a total of 1.66 billion hectares of land worldwide are degraded by human activities. More than 60% of this land consists of agricultural areas, including cropland and pastures.
Restoration of damaged areas is crucial. With 95% of global food production relying on soil, widespread degradation poses significant challenges to agricultural and food systems, as warned by the FAO. The study emphasizes the urgent need to restore affected areas and enhance food security.
The restoration of 26 million hectares of degraded cropland in the Arab region could reduce the yield gap of oil crops by up to 50% and significantly increase the yield potential of cereal, root, and tuber crops.
Consideration of sustainability is vital. In its study, the FAO calls for integrated solutions to prevent, reduce, and reverse soil degradation, focusing on sustainable soil, land, and water management.
Simultaneously, the international community is urged to prioritize the transformation of agricultural and food systems to achieve the goal of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) introduced by the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. This aims to increase productivity, preserve biodiversity, and address the impacts of climate change.
