Scientific Conceptual Framework for Land Degradation Neutrality
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SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRALITY A Report of the Science-Policy Interface The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not this have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by the UNCCD in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the UNCCD. SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRALITY A Report of the Science-Policy Interface How to cite this document: Orr, B.J., A.L. Cowie, V.M. Castillo Sanchez, P. Chasek, N.D. Crossman, A. Erlewein, G. Louwagie, M. Maron, G.I. Metternicht, S. Minelli, A.E. Tengberg, S. Walter, and S. Welton. 2017. Scientific Conceptual Framework for Land Degradation Neutrality. A Report of the Science-Policy Interface. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Bonn, Germany. Published in 2017 by United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Bonn, Germany © 2017 UNCCD. All rights reserved. UNCCD-SPI Technical Series No.01 ISBN 978-92-95110-60-1 (hard copy) ISBN 978-92-95110-59-5 (electronic copy) Photographs © Cover: © FAO / Sia Kambou; Zagreb, Croatia © UN Photo / John Isaac Content: Agroforestry system parcel © CIFOR CreativeCommons / Juan Carlos Huayllapuma Amazon © CIAT / Neil Palmer Ansongo, Mali © UN Photo / Marco Dormino Awsard, Western Sahara © UN Photo / Martine Perret Baucau, Timor Leste © UN Photo / Martine Perret Desertification © FNAC CreativeCommons / Miguel Almeida Flood irrigation channels, Morocco © CreativeCommons / Richard Allaway Forest cleared for palm oil, Cameroon © World Bank / Flore de Preneuf GPS in Agriculture © CIAT CreativeCommons / NeilPalmer Harvesting crops, Bangladesh © World Bank / Scott Wallace Experimental cassava field, Colombia © CIAT CreativeCommons / NeilPalmer Jhalokhati, Bangladesh © CreativeCommons / Mélody Braun Ladakh, North India © GERES CreativeCommons Mendawai village, Katingan, Central Kalimantan © CIFOR CreativeCommons / Nanang Sujana Northern, Mali © UN Photo / Marco Dormino Nyala, Sudan © UN Photo / Fred Noy Sahara desert, Algeria © EuropeanSpace Agency CreativeCommons Syrdarya Province of Uzbekistan © IFPRI / Milo Mitchell Sorghum Market, Konso Tribe © CreativeCommons / Rod Waddington Taklamakan Desert © CreativeCommons / NASA Terra-Modis Tana River watershed 1 & 2, Kenya © CIAT CreativeCommons / Georgina Smith Testing Soil Health © CIAT CreativeCommons / Georgina Smith The Okavango River © KARI ESA Publication coordinator: Sara Minelli Design and layout: Katja Cloud Project assistant: Silvia Berenice Quintana Sagarnaga THE CHANGWON INITIATIVE Supported by the UNCCD, the European Union, and the Changwon Initiative from the Korea Forest Service THE CHANGWON INITIATIVE SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRALITY A Report of the Science-Policy Interface The scientific conceptual framework for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) explains the underlying scientific processes and principles that support achievement of LDN and its intended outcomes. The framework provides a scientifically-sound basis to understand LDN, to inform the development of practical guidance for pursuing LDN and to monitor progress towards the LDN target. 1 SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRALITY 1 Authors and reviewers Lead authors: Barron J. Orr and Annette L. Cowie Contributing authors: Victor M. Castillo Sanchez, Pamela Chasek, Neville D. Crossman, Alexander Erlewein, Geertrui Louwagie, Martine Maron, Graciela I. Metternicht, Sara Minelli, Anna E. Tengberg, Sven Walter, Shelly Welton Internal reviewers (SPI, UNCCD secretariat): Mariam Akhtar-Schuster, Sasha Alexander, Adamou Bouhari, Foued Chehat, Jonathon Davies, Karma Dorji, Farah Ebraheem, Nathalie van Haren, German S. Kust, Vanina Pietragalla, Marioldy Sanchez Santivañez, Joris de Vente, Tao Wang External reviewers: Richard Escadafal, Jeffrey E. Herrick, Pavel Krasilnikov, Graham von Maltitz, César Morales, Uriel Safriel, Mark Stafford Smith, Lindsay C. Stringer The scientific conceptual framework for LDN was prepared in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP), by which any scientific output prepared under the supervision of the Science-Policy Interface (SPI) should undergo an international, independent review process (decision 19/COP.12). The conceptual framework was prepared by an author team of 2 lead authors and 11 con- tributing authors. An author meeting was held on 22-23 February 2016 in Washington DC, USA; SPI members as well as external experts in neutrality applied to environmental chal- lenges participated in the meeting. The draft produced by the authors underwent a three-step review process, including an internal review (13 reviewers), an external scientific peer-review (8 reviewers) as well as a review by the Bureau of the COP. The lead authors have ensured that all government and expert review comments received appropriate consideration. WHY A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR LDN IS NEEDED 2 2 Foreword For a long time, global action to conserve productive land and recover degraded areas has not kept pace with the loss of productive land. Now, a team of highly dedicated experts from the biophysical sciences, the social sciences and environmental law has developed a scientific conceptual framework that can speed up the recovery of degraded land. Taken seriously, it will minimize the loss of productive land into the future. The Scientific Conceptual Framework for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) laid out in this publication is a paradigm shift. This is an approach that counterbalances the expected loss of productive land with the recovery of degraded areas. It encourages the restoration of degraded land in the same physical location where new degradation is expected to occur. Stated differently, it places the measures to conserve, restore and rehabilitate land in the context of land use planning. Crucially, the framework places the investment in the restoration of degraded land on par with the use of natural resources for development. It creates a pathway to seamlessly integrate in land-restoration, the actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to promote biodiversity. And it is highly pragmatic, in part because it was developed in con- junction with the national-level LDN target setting process. Practical considerations from those working to implement LDN were incorporated in the design of the framework. Practitioners with experience on the ground, but also leader- ship in the agriculture, environment, planning and finance arms of government, are working with policy makers to ensure there is an enabling environment in their respective countries to assure its success. The achievement of land degradation neutrality by 2030 depends on this kind of collaboration at local, national and global scales. But it also depends on the participation of those with the highest stakes in its success or failure. The SPI has laid out a structure and the principles necessary to create a robust scientific foundation for action. Together we can achieve the vision of Land Degradation Neutrality, a foundation for most countries to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Monique Barbut Executive Secretary United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 3 SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRALITY 3 Executive Summary At the 12th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Parties were invited to formulate voluntary targets to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN). This “Conceptual Framework for Land Degradation Neutrality” is intended to provide a scientifically-sound basis for understanding and implementing LDN, and to inform the development of practical guidance for pursuing LDN and monitoring achievement of LDN for those UNCCD Parties that choose to pursue a LDN target. The LDN conceptual framework focuses on the goal of LDN and the supporting processes required to deliver this goal, including biophysical and socio-economic aspects, and their interactions. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines land degradation neutrality as “a state whereby the amount and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security remain stable or increase within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems” (decision 3/COP.12, UNCCD, 2015a).1 The goal is main- taining or enhancing the land resource base – in other words, the stocks of natural capital associated with land resources and the ecosystem services that flow from them. The definition emphasises the importance of ecosystem ser- vices in achieving sustainability of food production. The objectives of LDN are: • maintain or improve the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services; • maintain or improve productivity, in order to enhance food security; • increase resilience of the land and populations dependent on the land; • seek synergies with other social, economic and environmental