However, new reports on land degradation are painting a graver and graver picture
of the unfolding situation. Moreover, the Aichi Targets
26 and instruments like the
Paris Agreement established in very vivid terms the direct connection between
bio-diversity protection and land, and climate change and land respectively.
27
The nations of the world knew that the game was up. Tackling land degradation is
not an option, but rather a necessity if we are to achieve global sustainable development and efficacious global environmental governance.
Thus, dealing with land degradation is crucial to meeting the objectives of
sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda. The question was therefore: if not
Zero Net Land Degradation then what?
3.1 Rio + 20 to the Rescue
Thankfully, there were those who realized that while Zero Net Land Degradation
might not be acceptable to all and might not be the perfect answer, it was still an idea
from which something very constructive could be built as regards defining some of
the things sustainable land management should be about.
28 Still, this was not
enough. It had to become part of the international environment and, more importantly, sustainable development agenda proper if states were actually going to view it
as something of real importance. The gateway for this was provided by the adoption
of the Rio + 20 outcome document entitled “The Future We Want,” during the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) held in Rio de
Janeiro in 2012.
Under the subheading “Desertification, land degradation and drought,” paragraphs 205 to 209 of this document focuses on states addressing the challenges of
land degradation as these relate to sustainable development. So, in paragraph
205, the international community clearly states, inter alia, that “We recognize the
economic and social significance of good land management, including soil, particularly its contribution to economic growth, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and
food security, eradicating poverty, women’s empowerment, addressing climate
change and improving water availability. We stress that desertification; land degradation and drought are challenges of a global dimension and continue to pose serious
challenges to the sustainable development of all countries [. . .]”.
All these are central themes of the UNCCD and underline its direct and powerful
influence on the development of this part of the document. As will be shown later
26 See UNEP, Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020
and the Aichi Targets (COP 10 Decision X/2) specifically Targets 4, 5, 7, 11 and 14.
27 United Nations, UNFCC (2015) Paris Agreement. See especially Article 5.2.
28 United Nations (2011) Convention to Combat Desertification. Report of the Conference of the
Parties on its tenth session, held in Changwon from 10 to 21 October 2011.
8
R. Byron-Cox
of the unfolding situation. Moreover, the Aichi Targets
26 and instruments like the
Paris Agreement established in very vivid terms the direct connection between
bio-diversity protection and land, and climate change and land respectively.
27
The nations of the world knew that the game was up. Tackling land degradation is
not an option, but rather a necessity if we are to achieve global sustainable development and efficacious global environmental governance.
Thus, dealing with land degradation is crucial to meeting the objectives of
sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda. The question was therefore: if not
Zero Net Land Degradation then what?
3.1 Rio + 20 to the Rescue
Thankfully, there were those who realized that while Zero Net Land Degradation
might not be acceptable to all and might not be the perfect answer, it was still an idea
from which something very constructive could be built as regards defining some of
the things sustainable land management should be about.
28 Still, this was not
enough. It had to become part of the international environment and, more importantly, sustainable development agenda proper if states were actually going to view it
as something of real importance. The gateway for this was provided by the adoption
of the Rio + 20 outcome document entitled “The Future We Want,” during the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) held in Rio de
Janeiro in 2012.
Under the subheading “Desertification, land degradation and drought,” paragraphs 205 to 209 of this document focuses on states addressing the challenges of
land degradation as these relate to sustainable development. So, in paragraph
205, the international community clearly states, inter alia, that “We recognize the
economic and social significance of good land management, including soil, particularly its contribution to economic growth, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and
food security, eradicating poverty, women’s empowerment, addressing climate
change and improving water availability. We stress that desertification; land degradation and drought are challenges of a global dimension and continue to pose serious
challenges to the sustainable development of all countries [. . .]”.
All these are central themes of the UNCCD and underline its direct and powerful
influence on the development of this part of the document. As will be shown later
26 See UNEP, Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020
and the Aichi Targets (COP 10 Decision X/2) specifically Targets 4, 5, 7, 11 and 14.
27 United Nations, UNFCC (2015) Paris Agreement. See especially Article 5.2.
28 United Nations (2011) Convention to Combat Desertification. Report of the Conference of the
Parties on its tenth session, held in Changwon from 10 to 21 October 2011.
8
R. Byron-Cox