Land Degradation Neutrality: Concept And Approaches

Authors

• K. K. Mourya, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
• Arijit Barman, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
• Surabhi Hota, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
• Gopal Tiwari, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
• Shilpi Verma, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
• Ashok Kumar, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
• R. S. Meena, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur
• Prakash Kumar Jha, Mississippi State University
• U. S. Saikia, ICAR - National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur

ORCID

Jha: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5973-711X

MSU Affiliation

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

Creation Date

2026-04-29

Abstract

Land degradation is one of the most serious enhvironmental challenges that adversely affects socio-economic and ecological conditions. Unscientific land use changes and the adoption of faulty management practices have accelerated the rate of land degradation. Land degradation is also caused by natural hazards such as landslides, forest fires, and climate change. According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), land degradation neutrality (LDN) is “a state in which the quantity and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security remain stable or increase at a given spatial and temporal scale and ecosystem scale”. The aim of the LDN concept is to protect healthy and productive lands by encouraging the implementation of all available measures to halt, reduce, or reverse land degradation. Identification and detailed classification of land degradation, along with degrading lands or lands at risk of degradation, are prerequisites for applying the LDN concept. Accurate and real-time mapping of land resources at large scales is possible by using advanced tools of remote sensing and GIS in combination with basic soil survey techniques. The development of a sustainable land use plan and management practices based on the potential and limitations of the land resources for a particular use, taking account of the socio-economic condition of the farmers, could result in the restoration or halting of land degradation. However, farmers are not encouraged to invest in sustainable land management, especially in developing countries, as they are unsure of economic feasibility. Therefore, legislative provisions and government incentives are required at different levels to promote LDN, involving all stakeholders in the development of policy, guidelines, and ecological standards to achieve the target of zero land degradation by the year 2030. This chapter highlights the concepts of LDN, land degradation status, and sustainable land management strategies in different ecosystems to halt land degradation.

Publication Date

5-8-2024

Publication Title

Regenerative Agriculture: Translating Science to Action

Publisher

CRC Press

First Page

71

Last Page

93

Recommended Citation

Mourya, K. K., Barman, A., Hota, S., Tiwari, G., Verma, S., Kumar, A., Meena, R. S., Jha, P. K., & Saikia, U. S. (2024). Land Degradation Neutrality: Concept and Approaches. In Regenerative Agriculture. CRC Press.