Nature is our first line of defence against desertification and drought
Land is our lifeblood. About 95 percent of our food is either directly or indirectly produced on land, yet desertification and drought threaten to dry out fertile soils and leave millions food insecure. The United Nations has raised the alarm, reporting that one-fifth of the Earth’s land area – more than 2 billion hectares – is degraded, including more than half of all agricultural land, and that over 90 percent could become degraded by 2050 if we do not change the way we manage soil.
Expanding Africa’s Great Green Wall to combat desertification and drought
In Sudan, desertification poses a serious threat to land productivity and food security. The country is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as temperature-driven moisture loss, yet vulnerable communities depend on rainfed agriculture for their livelihoods. Rural communities in the Kordofan States are particularly exposed to weather and climate threats: average temperatures increased by almost 2° Celsius between 1989 and 2016 in the area, and 98 percent of agriculture is rainfed.
Acacia trees (Acacia senegal) are on the front line of Sudan’s efforts to combat the growing threats of desertification and climate change. The Government is working with FAO and its partners to restore agroforestry systems with acacia trees that reduce GHG emissions and provide income for men and women who harvest gum from the tree’s stems and branches. The Gums for Adaptation and Mitigation in Sudan (GAMS) project – funded by GCF and led by FAO – will direct USD 10 million towards expanding Africa’s Great Green Wall, enhancing the resilience of rural communities, restoring degraded lands, and at the same time, slowing desertification.