6 November 2017: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed an environmental management standard to guide the development of good practices in combating land degradation and desertification. The first part of the standard, known as ISO 14055-1:2017, elaborates the good practices framework, while an accompanying document (ISO/TR 14055-2), currently under development, aims to provide supportive regional case studies on how to apply the framework to a range of land degradation cases.

The ISO 14055-1:2017 framework is based on the assessment of the drivers of land degradation and risks associated with current and past practices. It also provides guidance on monitoring and reporting implementation of good practices.

According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), consumption of the earth’s natural reserves has doubled in the last 30 years and a third of the planet’s land is now severely degraded. To help address this challenge, the new ISO standard refers to actions or interventions undertaken with the purpose of preventing or minimizing land degradation or, where land is already degraded, aiding its recovery to improve productivity and ecosystem health.

Following a brief introduction highlighting the land degradation challenge globally, the ISO guidance document provides a visual presentation of the proposed framework for establishing good practices for combating land degradation and desertification. This is followed by a list of commonly used terms in land management, with their definitions. The document concludes with a bibliography highlighting related international standards, international conventions and guidance, and useful reports and technical papers.

The ISO is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies. [UNCCD News] [ISO Announcement] [ISO 14055-1:2017]