The state of our land plays a crucial role in our food supply, ecosystems, and livelihoods. Annually, 100 million hectares of land are degraded due to unsustainable agricultural practices, urbanization, and increased droughts.
To address this challenge, the FAO and GEF are developing innovative solutions to preserve and restore our natural heritage.
Collaboration for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems
Arid lands constitute over 40% of the planet, and soil degradation, coupled with climate change, exacerbates the risks of desertification and biodiversity loss.
To counteract these threats, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is collaborating with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to promote sustainable agri-food systems.
This partnership aims to reverse land degradation and enhance climate resilience, aligning with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Restoring our land is essential for combating desertification and ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future. Here are three FAO-GEF projects leading the way.
Restoring Grazing Lands in Kenya
In the semi-arid lands at the foot of Mount Kenya, the Maasai of Maiyanat rely on seasonal rains to feed their livestock. “We don’t practice agriculture or any other activity. We only live off our animals,” explains Iratino Macharia Shuel, leader of the Maiyanat community land management organization.
However, climate change has made rainfall unpredictable, exacerbating droughts and floods, eroding productive land, and making it difficult to feed their animals.
Through the Restoration Initiative, a joint program of the FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, local communities have adopted simple yet effective methods like creating semi-circles to capture rainwater and restore landscapes.
Raison Letutan, a youth leader in the Maiyanat community organization, shares, “We have seen grass grow in new places. All we want is to see grass everywhere. That would be our greatest happiness.”
Regenerating Mongolian Steppes
The eastern Mongolian steppes, among the world’s largest grassland ecosystems, are 57% degraded. Batnaran Batdeleg, a local farmer, has been using regenerative agriculture techniques since 2014 to revitalize these lands.
With support from an FAO and WWF-Mongolia project funded by the GEF, he has developed intercropping techniques.
Batnaran explains that he used to plant mustard, peas, rapeseed, and alfalfa to improve the soil. Now, he cultivates 12 types of plants simultaneously, taking advantage of their synergy to preserve soil moisture and nutrients.
These practices have revitalized nearly 3,700 hectares of agricultural land. Overall, the FAO and WWF-Mongolia have helped restore over 292,200 hectares of grasslands and shrublands, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8.8 million tons.
Education for Restoration in Moldova
In the Republic of Moldova, land degradation exacerbated by droughts and floods severely impacts agricultural production, pushing rural communities into poverty. In the districts of Orhei and Rezina, students are learning to address these challenges.
“We had a special course on soil. We learned that soil is as essential as air and water,” says Gabriela, a student.
Her parents, like many others in their village, have a garden. The FAO-GEF project teaches children to care for the soil, starting with their own gardens.
“If we don’t take care of the soil, one day we won’t have anything to eat,” adds Gabriela. Over 600 children have learned techniques to protect and restore soils. “We need to plant as many trees as possible,” advises Adelina, another student. “Bury the leaves in the soil instead of burning them. Stop using so many toxic chemicals.”
By educating youth, farmers, and pastoralists, the FAO and GEF are equipping this “restoration generation” with the tools to safeguard our shared resources.