The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) released a report on the status of drylands around the world. It finds that drylands are home to more than one-third of the world’s global biodiversity hotspots and half the world’s livestock and provide critical migration points for birds. FAO launched the report at the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25) to the UNFCCC.

The publication titled, ‘Trees, forests and land use in drylands: The first global assessment,’ finds that drylands cover 6.1 billion hectares, or 41% of the Earth’s land surface. Globally, 18% of dryland areas consist of forest, with almost half of these areas featuring canopy density above 70%. The least arid areas contain the most forest: 52% of dryland forest is in the dry subhumid zone and 41% in the semi-arid zone compared to 7% in the arid zone and less than 1% in the hyperarid zone. Trees also grow on drylands outside of forests, particularly in Asia and Europe. The report provides the baseline for future monitoring of drylands and aims to help countries in the sustainable management of these areas.

Though dryland ecosystems are vulnerable to drought, desertification, degradation, and climate impacts, they are home to an estimated two billion people. 

Though dryland ecosystems are vulnerable to drought, desertification, land degradation, climate impacts and water shortages, they are home to an estimated two billion people. Drylands are predicted to expand by 10 to 23 percent by the end of the 21st century, with dangerous implications for food security, human welfare and livelihoods. Trees and forests in drylands can help mitigate these challenges by providing environmental services, including the prevention of erosion and desertification, regulation of water and soil fertility, and habitat for biodiversity.

The report highlights the importance of understanding the status and changes in dryland areas in identifying strategies to tackle land degradation and desertification, conserve biodiversity, and increase the resilience of landscapes and communities. The report also provides a benchmark for measuring progress towards land degradation neutrality targets. The publication further emphasizes the role of drylands as “productive landscapes with considerable economic potential and environmental value.” The report calls for investing in forest and woodland resources in these areas, including trees outside forests.

FAO’s Committee on Forestry (COFO) requested FAO to undertake a global assessment of the status and extent of drylands in 2014 with the aim of better prioritizing and targeting investments for dryland restoration and management. The report is a response to COFO’s request.

FAO also released an issue of its magazine ‘Unasylva’ that examines the role of forests as nature-based solutions for water management. The issue highlights that forested watersheds provide approximately 75% of global accessible freshwater resources, underscoring the critical role of forests in providing natural infrastructure for high-quality water for over 50% of the world’s population. The issue emphasizes the increasing importance of water resources management in the context of climate change. [FAO Press Release] [Publication: Trees, forests and land use in drylands: The first global assessment] [Publication: Unasylva 251]