Restoration of ecosystems, adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and protection of natural habitats can secure the planet's future
With more than 55 million people directly ravaged by it every year, draught has emerged as the biggest threat to life and livelihood globally. Predictably, the worst hit are the most powerless: marginalised rural populations, small farmers and the abjectly poor, especially women and youth.
At the heart of the looming human crisis is the unabated degradation of land, which sustains the planet's uniquely fecund biosphere, including aquatic ecosystems, oceans, rivers and lakes. However, unsustainable food cultivation and unabated consumption have together laid to waste more than one-fifth of the Earth’s land area or some 2 billion hectares. If unchecked, this alarming trend could shrink global agricultural productivity by 12 per cent and drive-up food prices by 30 per cent by 2040.
The world must, therefore, focus on restoring land, halting desertification and building drought resilience. Indeed, the need for restoring natural spaces or ecosystem restoration has never been this urgent as the implications of inaction are unthinkably grim. It could mean the extinction of millions of species with which we share the planet.
Mercifully, in recognition of the gravity of the crisis, 765 million to 1 billion hectares of land across the world have been earmarked for restoration, almost half of it in Sub-Saharan Africa, closely followed by Asia and Latin America.
The ongoing restoration efforts worldwide include reviving damaged ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands and wetlands. The World Restoration Flagships—a series of pioneering initiatives—demonstrate the environmental benefits of restoration, including increased productivity, carbon sequestration and biodiversity preservation.
Reviving degraded ecosystems yields up to $30 from ecosystem services for every dollar spent. Restoring 1 billion hectares of degraded land will, therefore, significantly contribute to achieving SDGs, reversing nature loss and curbing climate change. Countries globally are committed to reviving at least 30 per cent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a 2022 landmark pact to protect nature.
By the end of 2024, the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the UNCCD will be held in Riyadh to accelerate action on land restoration and drought resilience. Successful land restoration requires concerted global efforts. We cannot turn back time, but we can grow forests, green our cities, harvest rainwater and eat soil-friendly foods. Here are some ways to fix the global food system and protect landscapes, from forests to wetlands.
Make agriculture sustainable
Reforming agriculture financing is crucial for achieving sustainable food systems. Currently, a large portion of the financial support provided to farmers worldwide ends up distorting prices or harming nature and human health. Governments and the finance sector can promote regenerative agriculture, redirect subsidies towards sustainable practices and small-scale farmers, ensure equitable access to resources for smallholder farmers and marginalised communities, and invest in research and development for the food systems of indigenous populations.
The agriculture business must develop climate-resilient crop varieties and sustainable farming methods, reduce food waste and loss, increase funds for research and development in new agricultural technologies, and focus on crops adapted to local ecosystems and climate.
Every five seconds, soil equivalent to one football pitch is eroded due to overcultivation, overgrazing, and deforestation. Yet, it takes 1,000 years to generate 3 centimetres of topsoil. This can be reversed if governments support organic farming that uses little or no synthetic chemicals, reform subsidies and loans to encourage soil-friendly agriculture and invest in sustainable land management and conservation that protect the natural infrastructure of waterways.
A widespread reform of farming practices is essential to transition towards a soil-friendly future. This involves implementing zero-tillage to preserve a permanent or semi-permanent organic soil cover, transitioning to compost and organic materials to enhance fertility, water retention, and microbial activity, and adopting irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation or mulching to help maintain soil moisture levels and prevent drought stress.
About 75 per cent of the world's fruit and seed crops rely on pollinators, with bees being the primary pollinators. However, pollinators, especially bees, are in severe decline due to various factors such as intensive agricultural practices, pesticide use, invasive species, diseases, and climate change. The buzz can be revived by reducing air pollution and minimising the adverse impacts of pesticides and fertilisers on human and planetary health. It would be just as essential to protect and restore natural habitats such as meadows, forests and wetlands where pollinators can thrive. Incentivising farmers to support pollinators by planting non-invasive, pollinator-friendly perennial plants should also help.
How to revive water cycles and sources
The world's freshwater ecosystems provide food, water, and habitat for countless plants and animals. However, they are disappearing at an alarming rate due to pollution, climate change, overfishing, and over-extraction.
Businesses can protect and restore freshwater ecosystems not just in the wild but in urban areas by investing in rainwater harvesting, smart irrigation practices and recycling water plants. Finance players can steer the world to a sustainable future by funding businesses or social enterprises focused on ecosystem restoration, such as eco-tourism and green technology.
Renew marine and coastal areas
Oceans and seas are essential for humanity, providing oxygen, food, and water while also helping to mitigate climate change. However, they are under an increasing threat from climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Businesses can ensure responsible coastal development, redesign products for reusability, and invest in nutrient recovery from waste for efficient fertiliser use.
Cities are home to over half of the world’s population and have a significant environmental impact. They account for 75 percent of the resources used globally, produce over half of global waste, and generate at least 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. As cities expand, they transform the natural world around them, potentially leading to droughts and land degradation. Urban areas can support biodiversity and reduce their environmental footprint by implementing green roofs, vertical gardens, and green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff.
The world needs to increase investments in nature-based solutions from $200 billion to $542 billion by 2030 in order to achieve climate, biodiversity, and ecosystem restoration goals. To address this, government, business, and finance leaders need to collaborate to close the existing finance gap.