Overcoming desertification is crucial

THE World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) has been observed since 1995 to promote public awareness about international efforts to combat desertification and the effects of drought collectively.

Desertification shows itself through reduced perennial vegetation cover, increased bare ground, soil erosion and reduced rain use efficiency.

It may be caused by climatic shifts or from human practices, such as deforestation and overgrazing. The 2017 World Day to Combat Desertification (#2017WDCD) will examine the important link between land degradation and migration.

Its theme is ‘Our land. Our home. Our future’ and its celebrations mark the power the land holds in giving people an opportunity and a future to stay resilient on their home ground.

#2017WDCD sends a strong message about the importance of productive land for securing food and generating local employment thereby contributing to sustainable land management.

Losing productive land is driving people to make risky life choices.

In rural areas, where people depend on scarce productive land resources, land degradation is a driver of migration.

Africa is particularly susceptible because more than 90% of the economy depends on a climate-sensitive natural resource base, such as rain-fed, subsistence agriculture. Unless we change the way in which we manage our land, in the next 30 years we may leave a billion or more vulnerable poor people with little choice