WOCAT

Local-level occurrences can have a global impact, which is why WOCAT looks beyond local sustainable land management (SLM). For example, if soil erosion occurs on enough farms, greenhouse gas emissions will rise, leading to climate change. For this reason, WOCAT is dedicated – on the one hand – to assisting land users, and – on the other – to helping governments define national policy. WOCAT is engaged in the international debate on land degradation, ecosystems, climate change, and SLM. It works to implement the objectives of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), of which the WOCAT database is an official tool. Furthermore, WOCAT’s focus on SLM in the broadest sense anchors it firmly within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, it promotes sustainable agriculture and food security (SDG 2). or it also is concerned with water security (SDG 6). The focus on climate change-related issues that involve land – including adaptation, resilience, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction – all fall under “climate action” (SDG 13). The broad range of issues that concern land degradation, biodiversity, and ecosystems are covered by “life on land” (SDG 15).

Food security is a global issue because nearly 800 million people in the world are chronically undernourished. With a global population of more than 7 billion, this is one in nine people.

We take a closer look at SLM and food security, as well as climate-smart agriculture.

It is clear to all (except a small minority of non-scientific “doubters”) that climate change is happening, with worldwide impacts. It takes different forms. Some places will be affected by warming; others by too much or too little rain. But nowhere on the planet will be spared, which is why adaptation is relevant to every country.

SLM and SDGs

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