6 September 2017: In conjunction with the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has launched a publication focused on land restoration and achievement of Land Degradation Nuetrality (LDN). The report is complimented by a land-resource planning (LRP) toolbox meant to support decisionmakers by making knowledge-based resources readily available.

The report titled, ‘Land resource planning for sustainable land management,’ along with the toolbox, support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 15.3 on achieving a LDN world by 2030. They also support FAO’s efforts to ensure that land is productive enough to meet the world’s nutritional and food needs, which is also the focus of SDG 2 on zero hunger. According to FAO, its strategies for sustainable food and agriculture follow the five interconnected principles of improving resource-use efficiency, natural resource conservation, improving rural livelihoods, enhancing resilience and good governance.

FAO recommends that “a consultation process be undertaken to develop, test and validate updated LRP tools in pilot countries at all scales.”

LRP fits within these five strategies, and the toolbox aims to provide decision-makers with the information they need to address challenges and drivers of change. Going forward and based on its research, inclusive of a global survey of 747 respondents, FAO recommends that “a consultation process be undertaken to develop, test and validate updated LRP tools in pilot countries at all scales.”

The UNCCD COP 13 is meeting in Ordos, China, from 6-16 September. [FAO Press Release] [Land resource planning for sustainable land management] [LRP Toolbox]