Desertification and Drought Day

Desertification and Drought Day (previously known as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought) is to combat desertification and to achieve land degradation neutrality through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes the intent to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations. Goal 15 states the resolve to halt and reverse land degradation.

Prevent desertification by:

creating a “culture of prevention” – a change in governments’ and peoples’ attitudes through improved incentives;

integrating land and water management by spreading the pressures of human activities;

protecting vegetative cover to protect soil from wind and water erosion;

more tightly integrating pastoral and cropping land use for a more efficient recycling of nutrients within the agricultural system;

using locally suitable technology combining traditional technology with selective transfer of locally acceptable technology;

giving institutional capacity, access to markets and financial capital for local community implementation, drawing on cultural history and local knowledge and experience, reinforced by science;

turning to alternative livelihoods that do not depend on traditional land uses, are less demanding on local land and natural resource use; and

creating economic opportunities in drylands, urban centres and areas outside drylands.