change. Degraded soils result in hunger, famine, migration and, under certain
circumstances, even in wars.
2. Land preservation and thus the sustainable management of soils is required to be
able to achieve the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN
2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
3. UNCCD has unanimously agreed on the following definition of “Land Degradation Neutrality” (LDN) which is crucial to determine the right actions to achieve
sustainable management of soils:
LDN is “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.”
LDN is to be regarded as a key concept in this context.
4. From a science point of view, sustainable management of soils is a global
concern. Statements and decisions by the international state community,
e.g. the Rio+20 outcome document or during COP
12 UNCCD, also show that the sustainable management of soils Is politically
regarded as common challenge of humankind. However, as yet this is not
expressed in a corresponding legal principle such as common concern of humankind. Such a legal principle would clearly underline the need of more responsible
and consolidated actions on all levels for a sustainable management of soils.
5. Although the effects of soil degradation are global, an appropriate management of
soils must be implemented locally. The challenges are multifactorial including
ecological, social, cultural, economic, political and legal aspects. Actions must
therefore primarily be of local nature.
6. The initiative “Economics of Land Degradation” has shown that preventive
measures are far more cost-effective than actions of restoration or rehabilitation.
Factual Challenges in Africa on Soils
7. African states face specific factual challenges concerning their soils and lands.
8. Although Africa the continent with the least land degradation, the pressure on
soils is currently enormous and continuously increasing due to a range of factors
including poverty, over-exploitation, population growth and climate change.
9. As the agricultural productivity is still low in Africa, food security has not yet
been achieved.
10. Drivers of unsustainable soil management include overstocking, overgrazing,
water erosion, landslides, and over-application of agro-chemicals. The poor
population often depends on land and other natural resources for immediate
needs which is an additional driver for land degradation.
11. Soils in Africa are inherently vulnerable due to low level of resilience.
12. The following aspects impose serious impediments to sustainable soil management in Africa:
• Data on soils are often not available or inadequate.
• Soil research results are often unavailable to farmers and are not sufficiently
implemented in daily agricultural practices.
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Annex: Outcome Document
circumstances, even in wars.
2. Land preservation and thus the sustainable management of soils is required to be
able to achieve the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN
2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
3. UNCCD has unanimously agreed on the following definition of “Land Degradation Neutrality” (LDN) which is crucial to determine the right actions to achieve
sustainable management of soils:
LDN is “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.”
LDN is to be regarded as a key concept in this context.
4. From a science point of view, sustainable management of soils is a global
concern. Statements and decisions by the international state community,
e.g. the Rio+20 outcome document or during COP
12 UNCCD, also show that the sustainable management of soils Is politically
regarded as common challenge of humankind. However, as yet this is not
expressed in a corresponding legal principle such as common concern of humankind. Such a legal principle would clearly underline the need of more responsible
and consolidated actions on all levels for a sustainable management of soils.
5. Although the effects of soil degradation are global, an appropriate management of
soils must be implemented locally. The challenges are multifactorial including
ecological, social, cultural, economic, political and legal aspects. Actions must
therefore primarily be of local nature.
6. The initiative “Economics of Land Degradation” has shown that preventive
measures are far more cost-effective than actions of restoration or rehabilitation.
Factual Challenges in Africa on Soils
7. African states face specific factual challenges concerning their soils and lands.
8. Although Africa the continent with the least land degradation, the pressure on
soils is currently enormous and continuously increasing due to a range of factors
including poverty, over-exploitation, population growth and climate change.
9. As the agricultural productivity is still low in Africa, food security has not yet
been achieved.
10. Drivers of unsustainable soil management include overstocking, overgrazing,
water erosion, landslides, and over-application of agro-chemicals. The poor
population often depends on land and other natural resources for immediate
needs which is an additional driver for land degradation.
11. Soils in Africa are inherently vulnerable due to low level of resilience.
12. The following aspects impose serious impediments to sustainable soil management in Africa:
• Data on soils are often not available or inadequate.
• Soil research results are often unavailable to farmers and are not sufficiently
implemented in daily agricultural practices.
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Annex: Outcome Document