Land degradation undermines well-being of 3bn people: Guterres
United Nations
17-June-2021
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that land degradation from climate change and the expansion of agriculture, cities and infrastructure "undermines the well-being of 3.2 billion people".
"We must make peace with nature," he noted.
The top UN official said that while "land can be our greatest ally", currently it's "suffering".
Land degradation is harming biodiversity and enabling infectious diseases, such as Covid-19, to emerge, he explained.
"Restoring degraded land would remove carbon from the atmosphere help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change and it could generate an extra $1.4 trillion in agricultural production each year."
Land restoration is "simple, inexpensive and accessible to all", he added, calling it "one of the most democratic and pro-poor ways of accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals".
Watch This TWL Video
To meet an ever-growing demand for food, raw materials, roads and homes, humans have altered nearly three quarters of the earth's surface, beyond land that is permanently frozen.
Avoiding, slowing and reversing the loss of productive land and natural ecosystems now, is both urgent and important for a swift recovery from the pandemic and for guaranteeing the long-term survival of people and the planet.
Restoring degraded land brings economic resilience, creates jobs, raises incomes and increases food security, according to the UN.
"This year marks the start of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration," Guterres said, calling on everyone to "make healthy land central to all our planning".
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is marked each year on June 17.
Its purpose is to raise awareness of the presence of desertification and drought.-IANS
More Headlines
Trinamool To Hold Protest Rallies On Monday Against Amit Shah’s Ambedkar Remarks: Mamata Banerjee
Five-Time Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala Passes Away at 89
DMK Plans Protests Across Tamil Nadu Over HM Shah’s Ambedkar Remarks
BJP MP Alleges Rahul Gandhi Pushed Him, LoP Dismisses Claim
Passengers May Face Inconvenience With ‘Rail Roko’ Protest In Punjab
Trinamool To Hold Protest Rallies On Monday Against Amit Shah’s Ambedkar Remarks: Mamata Banerjee
Five-Time Haryana CM Om Prakash Chautala Passes Away at 89
DMK Plans Protests Across Tamil Nadu Over HM Shah’s Ambedkar Remarks
BJP MP Alleges Rahul Gandhi Pushed Him, LoP Dismisses Claim
Passengers May Face Inconvenience With ‘Rail Roko’ Protest In Punjab