Land, soil, water and the Sustainable Development Goals

Land, soil and water resources are the foundation of food production. More than 95 percent of the world’s food is produced on land, with soils supplying nutrients, storing water and supporting plant growth, while water is a critical input for agricultural production, supporting crop and livestock systems.  

Freshwater resources are under increasing pressure due to population growth, economic development, climate change and competing demands across sectors. In many countries, agriculture, industries, services, households and ecosystems compete for limited freshwater resources, increasing risks to water security, livelihoods and environmental sustainability. FAO contributes to the achievement of SDG 6 by supporting the sustainable management and governance of water resources in agriculture. 

FAO is the custodian agency for SDG Indicator 6.4.1 (change in water‑use efficiency over time) and Indicator 6.4.2 (level of water stress), and supports its Members in strengthening their monitoring, reporting and decision‑making capacities for these indicators. 

Through initiatives such as AQUASTAT and the Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 (IMI-SDG6), FAO provides guidance on methodologies, data platforms and capacity development to improve the availability, quality and use of water data. Beyond monitoring, FAO supports Government Institutions and farmers countries in implementing measures that improve water‑use efficiency, reduce water stress and strengthen resilience to water scarcity. FAO also promotes sustainable practices that support soil functions to store water, regulate infiltration and filter contaminants to improve water quality.

Climate change is intensifying pressures on land, soil and water resources, increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, land degradation and desertification. These impacts directly affect agrifood systems, ecosystem services and rural livelihoods. 

FAO contributes to SDG 13 by supporting adaptation, resilience and mitigation actions related to land, soil and water management. FAO promotes practices and governance approaches that strengthen the resilience of agrifood systems to climate variability and extremes. This includes supporting climate‑resilient land and water management, managing droughts, increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) and improving soil health, restoring degraded agricultural lands and landscapes (including cropland and pastureland), reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions where feasible, combating sand and dust storms, and integrating climate risk considerations into land, soil and water planning and decision-making. 

Land and soil resources are fundamental to food security and nutrition, livelihoods, biodiversity and ecosystem services. Land degradation, desertification and soil decline pose significant challenges to sustainable development, particularly in rural areas and fragile ecosystems and contexts. FAO estimates that 1 660 million hectares of land – more than 10 percent of the world's land area – have been degraded due to unsustainable practices, with over 60 percent of this human-induced degradation occurring on agricultural land, including cropland and pastureland.

Soils are among the most biodiverse systems on Earth, playing a key role in ecosystem stability, nutrient cycling and land productivity. Sustainable soil management and restoration are therefore essential to address land degradation, protect biodiversity and maintain ecosystem services.

FAO supports the achievement of SDG 15 through its work on sustainable land management, land governance, land assessment and monitoring, and the prevention and reversal of land degradation. The Organization supports countries in assessing land conditions, monitoring trends and strengthening national capacities through the development of methodologies, tools and data systems. As part of these efforts, FAO works on foundational guidance on avoiding, reducing and reversing the degradation of agricultural lands, including croplands, pastures and soils.

FAO also plays a key role in supporting countries to achieve SDG Target 15.3 on land degradation neutrality, including through normative tools, tenure-responsive approaches and technical support through the promotion of sustainable agriculture approaches, including in dryland context or salt-effected soils and sustainable land management and restoration practices. The indicator measures the proportion of land that is degraded over the total land area, enabling countries to monitor progress towards preventing, reducing and reversing land degradation. 

By leveraging the complementary strengths of stakeholders across governments, civil society and the public sector, partnerships around land, soil and water facilitate coordinated and precise action to advance sustainable agriculture, food security and rural development. These interwoven partnership networks connect policy with practice, global goals with local action and technical expertise with on-the-ground impact. These connections will continue to grow, mobilizing resources, expanding knowledge and organizing action to implement interventions that will progress the achieve the five intended outcomes of the Conceptual Framework and move towards ending global hunger. 

FAO has fostered hundreds of partnerships around the globe as a means to deliver advancements on the sustainable management of land, soil and water resources. The Organization has and will continue to serve in a number of roles - as an initiator, collaborator and supporter of partnerships. It has led global initiatives such as WASAG and the Global Soil Partnership (GSP), while strengthening partnerships with other UN entities such as UN-Water, UNCCD, and other international organizations. Read more about our partners here.

 Land, soil and water are integral components of the One Health approach, influencing human health through their effects on the safety of food and water, the health of the ecosystems and environmental conditions. FAO supports a One Health approach that integrates human, animal, plant, land , soil water and ecosystem health to promote sustainable, safe and resilient agrifood systems. 

FAO integrates gender considerations across its work on land, soil and water. These efforts support women’s rights, promote inclusive decision-making and contribute to more equitable and sustainable agrifood systems. 

Urban expansion and land-use change place growing pressure on land and water resources, including the loss of productive land, reduced water infiltration, and increased runoff and flood risks. FAO supports integrated land-use planning and the incorporation of green and blue infrastructure to protect land functions, sustain water resources and maintain soil functions within urban environments. 

Sustainable land, soil and water management improves resource efficiency and reduces pollution across agrifood systems. FAO supports land, soil and water management practices that promote circularity, nutrient efficiency and environmentally sound production.