Rome - A set of global guidelines on restoration of the world’s drylands, drawn up by FAO and partners, is now available in French translation.  

Over forty percent of the world’s land cover consists of drylands, home to around two billion people. Between 10-20% are estimated to be degraded. 

Drylands face extraordinary challenges, including those posed by desertification, biodiversity loss, poverty, food insecurity and climate change, and people living there are often locked into a vicious circle of poverty, unsustainable practices and environmental degradation. 

To beef up efforts to arrest dryland degradation and restore degraded lands, a set of global guidelines on dryland restoration was drawn up FAO and partners. These guidelines capturing, evaluating and sharing knowledge gained in dryland restoration initiatives are now made available in French translation. 

The global guidelines present the components for the design, implementation and sustainability of restoration initiatives to build ecological and social resilience and generate benefits for local livelihoods.

Two main groups are targeted by this document: policymakers and other decision-makers, and practitioners, because both have the power to bring about positive change. 

As illustrated by the rich case studies provided, the guidelines involve a vast range of actions, from on-the-ground activities such as habitat protection, assisted natural regeneration, sand-dune stabilization and planting, to policy improvements, provision of financial incentives, capacity development, and continuous monitoring and learning. 

Moreover, they show that restoration needs to be considered across the entire market value chain, from seed to end-product, as well as at the landscape level, including the mosaic of land uses, needs and expectations of interest groups.

• Directives mondiales pour la restauration des forêts et des paysages dégradés dans les terres arides