Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
Last updated on 1 February 2022
This indicator is currently classified as Tier I. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the Custodian agency for this indicator. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are partner agencies.
Unit of measure: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area (%)
Why is this indicator important?
Food production, extractive industries, or the expansion of infrastructure increase pressure on arable lands, pastures, forestry, and other essential areas. In turn, land degradation has negative effects on ecosystems, farm yields, and the quantity and quality of water resources. As a consequence, food insecurity may rise and facilitate migration and urbanization.
To assess the extent of land degradation is important for tracking progress towards voluntary Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and for the development of plans of action to redress degradation, including through the conservation, sustainable management, rehabilitation and restoration of land resources.
How is the indicator measured and monitored?
According to the metadata document, the indicator uses a binary classification (degraded or not degraded) drawing on the three sub-indicators that assess trends in land cover, in land productivity, and in carbon stocks above and below ground. Any significant decrease or negative change in one of the three is considered to compromise land degradation. Land degradation is defined the reduction or loss of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rain fed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and woodlands resulting from a combination of pressures, including land use and management practices. (UNCCD 1994, Article 1).
Since 2018, data is collected every four years through UNCCD’s national reporting and review process. Data sources include databases, maps, reports provided by ministries or agencies along with national statistical offices, as well as remote sensing, such Earth Observation data sources, that are disaggregated to national level. The Good Practices Guidance for SDG Indicator 15.3.1, version 2.0 provides a detail overview on monitoring and computation. The main limitations include the availability of historical time series and the, as of yet, often limited national capacities to process, interpret, and validate geospatial data.
By Anne Hennings, peer-reviewed by UNCCD.
Official indicator data
The proportion of land that is degraded draws on three sub-indicators: Land productivity, land cover, and soil organic carbon. * Select "year" below to see the most recent data for more countries.
Other related indicators on Land Portal
In addition to the official indicator data, the following indicators provide information concerning land under organic agriculture and the enforcement of land use restrictions in rural areas.
Indicator | Min-Max Number of years |
Countries / Obs | Min / Max Value |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural area certified organic | |||
Agriculture area under organic agric. | |||
Restrictions regarding rural land use are enforced |
Harnessing degraded lands for biodiversity conservation
Land degradation affects an estimated 24% of the global land area. While predominantly discussed as an environmental problem, degraded lands have recently been reconsidered as an untapped resource for production industries like agriculture and forestry. Here, we investigate the biodiversity potential of degraded land compared to both used and undisturbed land.
The economics of desertification, land degradation, and drought
Attention to land degradation and environmental pollution has increased significantly in the past 25 years, largely due to greater levels of international cooperation and recognition that local changes in land resources have global impacts. As the world’s focus on climate change increases, so, too, does the attention being paid to drought and its rise in frequency and severity.
Farmer management of production risk on degraded lands: the role of wheat genetic diversity in Tigray Region, Ethiopia
This paper investigates the effects of wheat genetic diversity and land degradation on risk and agricultural productivity in less favored production environments of a developing agricultural economy.
Farmer management of production risk on degraded lands
"This paper investigates the effects of wheat genetic diversity and land degradation on risk and agricultural productivity in less favored production environments of a developing agricultural economy.
Soils on the global agenda: developing international mechanisms for sustainable land management
This report contributes to the aim of the International Union of Soil Sciences to put sustainable land management higher on the global agenda. The report is divided into three distinct sections:Part I discusses the global soils agenda and outlines experiences and strategies for sustainable land management.
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By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
Indicator details
The Indicator is conceptually clear, has an internationally established and available methodology and standards, and that data is regularly produced by countries for at least 50 per cent of countries and of the population in every region where the indicator is relevant.
Key dates: