Why we do it

Unsustainable resource management by local communities is one of the main causes of land degradation in developing countries. Unfortunately, people living in degraded landscapes generally do not have access to the resources necessary to change their practices to more sustainable ones and to escape poverty. On the contrary, their current livelihoods often aggravate the problem of land degradation.

Today, over 40% of the world’s poorest population live in degraded landscapes.

The extreme state of land degradation in developing countries negatively affects ecosystem resilience and increases the problem of soil erosion and land desertification, further impoverishing local communities and accentuating impacts of climate change and natural disasters.

Developing countries are strongly affected by this vicious cycle, where land degradation and poverty act simultaneously, and deepen population vulnerability to economic and environmental issues.

Counteracting the effects of land degradation in developing countries begins with proper education and assistance for sustainable resource management and land restoration.