Representatives from nearly 200 countries have concluded United Nations desertification talks in Mongolia amid warnings that land degradation and worsening drought are threatening communities across the world.
Conference discussions highlighted estimates that as much as 40% of the planet’s land is now degraded. Rangelands cover more than half of Earth’s surface and support the lives or livelihoods of approximately two billion people, but agricultural expansion and climate change are placing these ecosystems under increasing pressure.Delegates postponed a decision on a legally binding global drought agreement until the next conference, expected to be held in Egypt in two years.
The meeting produced a $1.2-billion initiative supporting 45 rangeland projects. The Asian Development Bank also pledged $2 billion for land-restoration work across the Asia-Pacific region.Why it matters: Declining soil quality and more frequent droughts can reduce food production, limit water supplies, displace communities and increase economic and political instability.
