Migratory species come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny insects and birds to large buffalo and elephants, to sharks and dolphins or snakes . Whether their journey crosses thousands of kilometers, or just a few, migratory species play essential roles in ecosystems worldwide. But their diverse habitats are threatened by land degradation and desertification.

Les espèces migratrices sont très variées, depuis les insectes et les oiseaux jusqu’aux bisons et aux éléphants, depuis les requins et les dauphins jusqu’aux serpents. Qu’elles parcourent des milliers de kilomètres ou quelques kilomètres seulement, ces espèces jouent un rôle essentiel dans les écosystèmes du monde entier. Mais leurs divers habitats sont menacés par la dégradation des terres et la désertification.

Las especies migratorias existen en todos los tamaños y formas, desde los de minúsculos insectos y pequeñas aves hasta grandes búfalos y elefantes, pasando por tiburones y delfines o serpientes. Tanto si el viaje que realizan es de miles de kilómetros como de unos pocos, las especies migratorias desempeñan papeles esenciales en los ecosistemas de todo el planeta. Pero sus diversos hábitats se encuentran amenazados por la degradación de las tierras y la desertificación.

“The great opportunity of the Anthropocene is that we can choose to learn the lessons of the past and steer a new course to a safer future.” Soils are the most significant nonrenewable geo-resource that we have for ensuring water, energy, and food security for present and future generations while adapting and building resilience to climatic change and shocks. But soil’s caring capacity is often forgotten as the missing link in our pursuit of sustainable development.

Land is our natural ally. But the natural conditions of land and soils are not eternal, and must be protected. Soil is the most significant geo-resource we have for ensuring water, energy and food security for present and future generations. Healthy soils are also vital for building resilience and adapting to climate change.

This book is intended as a basic information kit that tells “the story” of desertification, land degradation and drought at the global scale, together with a comprehensive set of graphics. The book indicates trends as they have taken place over the last decades, combining and connecting issues, and present priorities.

Ce livre constitue un ensemble d’informations de base sur la désertification, la dégradation des terres et la sécheresse à l’échelle mondiale, accompagnées d’une série de graphiques. Celui-ci présente les évolutions ayant eu lieu au cours des dernières décennies, en associant les questions et les priorités actuelles.

Este libro tiene como objetivo ser un manual informativo en el que se cuenta “la historia” de la desertificación, la degradación de las tierras y la sequía a escala global acompañado por una completa serie de gráficos. Este libro muestra tendencias que han tenido lugar a lo largo de las últimas décadas, combinando y conectando temas y presentando prioridades.

This book is intended as a basic information kit that tells “the story” of desertification, land degradation and drought at the global scale, together with a comprehensive set of graphics. The book indicates trends as they have taken place over the last decades, combining and connecting issues, and present priorities.

This book is intended as a basic information kit that tells “the story” of desertification, land degradation and drought at the global scale, together with a comprehensive set of graphics. The book indicates trends as they have taken place over the last decades, combining and connecting issues, and present priorities.

This book is intended as a basic information kit that tells “the story” of desertification, land degradation and drought at the global scale, together with a comprehensive set of graphics. The book indicates trends as they have taken place over the last decades, combining and connecting issues, and present priorities.

The earth’s climate is changing at a rate unprecedented in recent human history and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The impacts and risks associated with this are global, geographically diverse and increasingly being felt across a range of systems and sectors essential for human livelihoods and well-being. The more severe and far-reaching the impacts of climate change are, the greater the loss of species will be, and the greater the deterioration of drylands and the risk of desertification and land degradation around the world will be.