WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT

WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT

Every year on June 17, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought highlights methods to prevent desertification. This World Day also focuses on finding ways to recover from drought.

#WorldDayToCombatDesertificationAndDrought

Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert. This is usually a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. When desertification occurs, biological productivity is lost. This is detrimental in areas that are already greatly affected by poverty and hunger.

In recent years, more than two billion hectares of productive land has become degraded. The good news is, there are some effective ways to prevent desertification. Some of these ways include:

  1. Protect the soil from degradation through land and water management.

  2. Protect vegetative cover.

  3. Integrate the use of land for grazing and farming to allow for a more efficient cycling of nutrients.

  4. Apply traditional agriculture practices with land use technologies.

  5. Give local communities the resources necessary to manage dryland.

  6. Create economic opportunities in dryland urban centers.

It’s more important than ever to combat desertification and drought. By the year 2050, there needs to be enough productive land to meet the demands of 10 billion people. Luckily, there are also ways to reverse land degradation. This includes planting trees, enriching the soil with nutrients, preventing soil erosion, and establishing seed banks.

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT

On this day, environmentalists and conservationists give presentations educating the public on ways to combat desertification and drought. Here is how you can participate and show support:

  1. Learn ways to protect the soil on your land.

  2. Plant at least one tree on your property.

  3. Educate yourself on the benefits of seed banks.

  4. Watch videos and read articles about desertification and its impact on our planet.

  5. Spread awareness for this day on social media with #WorldDayToCombatDesertificationAndDrought.

WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT HISTORY

Desertification was identified as one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. In 1994, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This legally binding international agreement linked the environment and development to sustainable land management. In addition to the UNCCD, the UN proclaimed June 17 as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.