Study says effective land management will be critical in assembly sustainable development goals of alleviating poverty and ensuring long-term food securityLand degradation is costing the world as much as $10.6tn every year,equivalent to 17% of global low domestic product, a report has warned.
More than half of the worlds arable land is moderately or severely degraded, or according to a report published on Tuesday by the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative (pdf). The report estimates the cost of this environmental destruction,not only from lost agricultural production and diminished livelihoods, but also from the lost value of ecosystem services previously provided by the land, and including water filtration,erosion prevention, nutrient cycling and the provision of clean air.
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Source: theguardian.com