14 September 2017: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has undertaken partnerships to hasten assessments of land degradation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). SIDS are among 30 countries applying FAO’s Land Degradation Assessment (LADA) methodology, and are the focus of a collaboration between FAO and the Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The partnership was formalized at the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) to the UNCCD.

With funding from Germany and the European Union, the FAO partnered with Google to develop and apply technology that supports the LADA methodology. Through remote sensing as well as through activities involving local communities, the 30 target countries are producing national data that determines land use changes and degradation so that by 2018, the countries have a better understanding of trends in land cover, land productivity and carbon installations.

Currently, 100 countries have begun establishing national targets on LDN.

The data will be used to support countries’ achievement of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), among other development priorities. LDN is one of the targets under the Sustainable Development Goal on life on land (SDG 15.3). Currently, 100 countries have begun establishing national targets on LDN, and the UNCCD has launched a LDN Fund to bolster support for these efforts.

With regard to SIDS, Cabo Verde is the first island country to employ the methodology, including high-resolution satellite imagery to assess land degradation. [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on LDN Fund Launch] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on LDN Target Setting] [FAO Press Release] [LADA Methodology]