As part of efforts to realise this mandate, the UNCCD has set up the Global
Mechanism an LDN Target Setting Programme (TSP) through its operational arm.
This programme offers countries wishing to work on implementing LDN various
forms of assistance. What is most important to note here, however, is that countries
actively undertake measures including legislative measures to promote sustainable
land management and thereby the protection of soils through this programme.
34
Policy is generally more effective when its implementation is backed by the
authority of law and when there is a proper legislative framework in which it can
operate. It is still early days yet for many countries as regards the development of
national legislation aimed specifically at the protection of soils. But many countries
have begun the process, being guided by the requirements for achieving the sustainable development goals and the international framework being laid out for the same.
The UNCCD as an international legal instrument and as a global process continues to
be in the vanguard of soil protection. It has and continues to push the envelope as
regards the protection of soil in various ways. It is only a matter of time, as the history
of this process to date has shown, before more legislation at both the international and
national levels shall emerge to ensure better protection of soils in the future.
4 Conclusion
This chapter demonstrates that while the objective of having proper legislative
frameworks to protect soils universally is still a long way off, the UNCCD as a
legal instrument and a living process has and continues to be a stimulus and guide for
this purpose. Of course, the UNCCD is only part of this process and needs to
continue to work with and within other processes, both at the national and international levels, if the objective is to be achieved. As regards these other processes,
actions in the spheres of climate change, biodiversity and the continuing development of international environmental law among others, are some of the areas vital to
the further evolution of legislative frameworks to enhance soil protection. The
UNCCD has been working synergistically with these and other relevant processes
at all levels, and with it being the “custodian” for LDN, this cooperation will not only
continue, but will certainly intensify, as it fulfils its role as vanguard in efforts to
ensure universal soil protect.
References
Adhikari K, Hartemink AE (2016) Linking soils to ecosystem services — a global review.
Geoderma 262:101–111
34 United Nations (2017).
From Desertification to Land Degradation Neutrality: The UNCCD and the. . .
11
Mechanism an LDN Target Setting Programme (TSP) through its operational arm.
This programme offers countries wishing to work on implementing LDN various
forms of assistance. What is most important to note here, however, is that countries
actively undertake measures including legislative measures to promote sustainable
land management and thereby the protection of soils through this programme.
34
Policy is generally more effective when its implementation is backed by the
authority of law and when there is a proper legislative framework in which it can
operate. It is still early days yet for many countries as regards the development of
national legislation aimed specifically at the protection of soils. But many countries
have begun the process, being guided by the requirements for achieving the sustainable development goals and the international framework being laid out for the same.
The UNCCD as an international legal instrument and as a global process continues to
be in the vanguard of soil protection. It has and continues to push the envelope as
regards the protection of soil in various ways. It is only a matter of time, as the history
of this process to date has shown, before more legislation at both the international and
national levels shall emerge to ensure better protection of soils in the future.
4 Conclusion
This chapter demonstrates that while the objective of having proper legislative
frameworks to protect soils universally is still a long way off, the UNCCD as a
legal instrument and a living process has and continues to be a stimulus and guide for
this purpose. Of course, the UNCCD is only part of this process and needs to
continue to work with and within other processes, both at the national and international levels, if the objective is to be achieved. As regards these other processes,
actions in the spheres of climate change, biodiversity and the continuing development of international environmental law among others, are some of the areas vital to
the further evolution of legislative frameworks to enhance soil protection. The
UNCCD has been working synergistically with these and other relevant processes
at all levels, and with it being the “custodian” for LDN, this cooperation will not only
continue, but will certainly intensify, as it fulfils its role as vanguard in efforts to
ensure universal soil protect.
References
Adhikari K, Hartemink AE (2016) Linking soils to ecosystem services — a global review.
Geoderma 262:101–111
34 United Nations (2017).
From Desertification to Land Degradation Neutrality: The UNCCD and the. . .
11