The challenge of land degradation
Sustainable land use is closely connected with many sustainable development objectives Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). It is estimated that two billion hectares of land is degraded worldwide, and we continue to degrade another 12 million hectares of productive land every year.
According to the 2018 World Atlas of Desertification produced by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, 75% of the Earth’s land area is already degraded, and over 90% could become degraded by 2050.
Land degradation is not a stand-alone issue, but threatens the future sustainability of life on Earth, with severe impacts on food security, livelihoods, climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Sustainable land management (SLM) practices such as landscape restoration and agroforestry offer great opportunities to reduce and reverse land degradation, and produce significant environmental and social benefits.
LDN is defined by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as: “A state whereby the amount and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security remains stable or increases"
LDN Fund in a nutshell:
The Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund, co-promoted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Mirova, is a first-of-its-kind impact investment fund investing in profit-generating sustainable land management (SLM) and land restoration projects worldwide.
The LDN Fund has secured over $100m of commitments from investors, and achieved its first closing in December 2018 with $ 60m available.
The LDN Fund provides long-term financing (debt/equity) for sustainable land use projects that will reduce or reverse land degradation.It operates according to robust environmental and social standards, which are integrated into a comprehensive E&S Management System (ESMS).