In a positive environmental turn, a record 120 countries are in the process of setting voluntary land degradation neutrality (LDN) targets that could reduce the loss of productive land dramatically by 2030. At least 80 countries have already set targets, whose implementation could reverse land degradation globally, contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, Life on Land, and build the resilience of communities threatened by extreme and erratic weather events such as droughts, flashfloods and dust and sand storms.

Achieving LDN is vital to maintaining healthy lands and the sustainability of the ecosystem services the land provides. LDN is a key element of SDG target 15.3, and is recognized as an accelerator for achieving several other SDGs by 2030, including those on reducing hunger and poverty and tackling climate change. 

 

Originally published from the UNCCD webpage 

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