report on can land sustain its fertility
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Land and soils constitute the foundation for sustainable agricultural development, essential ecosystem functions and food security. They are key to sustaining life on Earth.
Soil is non-renewable - its loss is not recoverable within a human lifespan - yet it is the most overlooked natural resource.
Soil degradation is a real and escalating threat caused by unsustainable land uses and management practices, and climate extremes that result from various social, economic and governance drivers.
The current rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity of future generations to meet their needs. This trend can be reversed through a concerted effort towards its sustainable management.
As soils are at risk, this compromises sustainable agriculture, food security and the provision of ecosystem services. foundation of agricultural development and ecological sustainability. It is the basis for food, feed, fuel and fibre production and for many critical ecological services. Soil is a complex, dynamic living system and its suitability varies from place to place. The area of productive soil is limited and is under increasing pressure of intensification and competing uses for cropping, forestry and pasture/rangeland, and to satisfy demands of the growing population for food and energy production, raw materials extraction, and so forth.
Soil is a reservoir for at least a quarter of global biodiversity and therefore requires the same attention as above ground biodiversity;
Functional soils play a key role in the supply of clean water and resilience to flood and drought;
Plant and animal life depend on primary nutrient cycling through soil processes. Efficient soils provide the largest store of terrestrial carbon; their preservation may contribute to climate change mitigation;
Soils also serve as a platform and source for construction and raw material. Soils have a role in achieving integrated production systems and helping to address the food, water, and energy nexus;
Soils are both affected by, and may contribute to, climate change. Sustainable management of soil resources contributes effectively to mitigation of (i) climate change through carbon sequestration and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and (ii) desertification processes;
Soils need to be recognized and valued not only for their productive capacities but also for their contribution to the maintenance of key ecosystem services.
Key challenges
Sustainable management of the world’s agricultural soils and sustainable production intensification have become an imperative for global food security. Current demographic trends and projected growth in global population (to exceed 9 billion by 2050) are estimated to result in a 60 percent increase in demand for food, feed and fibre by 2050. There is little scope for expansion in the agricultural area, except in some parts of Africa and South America. Much of the additional available land is not suitable for agriculture, and the ecological, social and economic costs of bringing it into production will be very high. In addition, 25 percent of land is highly degraded and a further 44 percent is slightly or moderately degraded due to the erosion, salinization, compaction and chemical pollution of soils.
These dual objectives cannot be attained satisfactorily unless soils are placed at the very top of the new development agenda. There are well recognized links between soils and poverty, which are often associated with socio-economic and governance issues.
Soil is non-renewable - its loss is not recoverable within a human lifespan - yet it is the most overlooked natural resource.
Soil degradation is a real and escalating threat caused by unsustainable land uses and management practices, and climate extremes that result from various social, economic and governance drivers.
The current rate of soil degradation threatens the capacity of future generations to meet their needs. This trend can be reversed through a concerted effort towards its sustainable management.
As soils are at risk, this compromises sustainable agriculture, food security and the provision of ecosystem services. foundation of agricultural development and ecological sustainability. It is the basis for food, feed, fuel and fibre production and for many critical ecological services. Soil is a complex, dynamic living system and its suitability varies from place to place. The area of productive soil is limited and is under increasing pressure of intensification and competing uses for cropping, forestry and pasture/rangeland, and to satisfy demands of the growing population for food and energy production, raw materials extraction, and so forth.
Soil is a reservoir for at least a quarter of global biodiversity and therefore requires the same attention as above ground biodiversity;
Functional soils play a key role in the supply of clean water and resilience to flood and drought;
Plant and animal life depend on primary nutrient cycling through soil processes. Efficient soils provide the largest store of terrestrial carbon; their preservation may contribute to climate change mitigation;
Soils also serve as a platform and source for construction and raw material. Soils have a role in achieving integrated production systems and helping to address the food, water, and energy nexus;
Soils are both affected by, and may contribute to, climate change. Sustainable management of soil resources contributes effectively to mitigation of (i) climate change through carbon sequestration and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and (ii) desertification processes;
Soils need to be recognized and valued not only for their productive capacities but also for their contribution to the maintenance of key ecosystem services.
Key challenges
Sustainable management of the world’s agricultural soils and sustainable production intensification have become an imperative for global food security. Current demographic trends and projected growth in global population (to exceed 9 billion by 2050) are estimated to result in a 60 percent increase in demand for food, feed and fibre by 2050. There is little scope for expansion in the agricultural area, except in some parts of Africa and South America. Much of the additional available land is not suitable for agriculture, and the ecological, social and economic costs of bringing it into production will be very high. In addition, 25 percent of land is highly degraded and a further 44 percent is slightly or moderately degraded due to the erosion, salinization, compaction and chemical pollution of soils.
These dual objectives cannot be attained satisfactorily unless soils are placed at the very top of the new development agenda. There are well recognized links between soils and poverty, which are often associated with socio-economic and governance issues.
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