Africa: How Degradation and Drought Are Threatening the Land That Feeds Us
[RFI] Desertification is not the spread of deserts. It is the slow degradation of fertile land - a process that now affects 40 percent of the Earth's land surface and leaves around 100 million hectares of healthy land unproductive every year. As governments gather in Mongolia this week for the UN's Cop17 desertification summit, scientists say restoring soil health is becoming critical for food…
Desertification, a process that now affects 40 percent of Earth's land surface, is the gradual degradation of fertile land, leaving around 100 million hectares of productive land unproductive annually. As world leaders convene in Mongolia for the UN's Cop17 desertification summit, experts emphasize the critical importance of restoring soil health for food security, livelihoods, and climate resilience.
The summit's theme, "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope," will focus on addressing drought and land degradation through various initiatives.
France's National Research and Development Institute (IRD) chair of the French Scientific Committee on Desertification, Jean-Luc Chotte, explained to RFI that desertification is not the advance of deserts but the deterioration of soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid climates. Contrary to popular belief, desertification does not necessarily lead to the formation of deserts; rather, it impacts populations and livelihoods in these climate zones.
Distinguishing desertification from aridity, Chotte clarified that aridity describes a long-term climate characterized by water scarcity, while drought is a temporary period of water shortage affecting ecosystems and human populations. Drought conditions in July saw record temperatures affecting 900 million people, exacerbating the challenges faced by vulnerable communities.
Since France was officially recognized as a desertification-affected nation in 2024, Chotte highlighted the country's commitment to combating desertification through scientific research and action. France set up a scientific committee in 1997 to understand desertification processes and develop effective strategies based on the latest scientific evidence.
The committee identified 2 percent of mainland France as affected, with approximately 0.14 percent degraded based on three UNCCD indicators. By expanding the study to include additional indicators, such as erosion, metal pollution, loss of biodiversity, and landslides, France determined that 77 percent of its soils are degraded.
The primary causes of land degradation are human activities, including harmful agricultural practices and livestock farming methods. Chotte emphasized the need to address these issues, such as improper plowing, monoculture, excessive fertilization, and reduced organic matter in the soil. These practices, exacerbated by climate change, accelerate soil degradation, creating a vicious cycle that further contributes to climate change.
He stressed the importance of changing these practices and adopting sustainable approaches, such as agroecology, to restore soil health and ensure food security for vulnerable populations.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
