Neutrality and transformation? Land Degradation Neutrality & possible chances for land governance Nathalie van Haren, Both ENDS - Amsterdam, The Netherlands 10 October 2016
Sustainable Development Goals SDG 15 aims at sustaining life on land and includes a target (15.3) that makes explicit reference to land degradation neutrality: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation neutral world”
UNCCD Land Degradation Neutrality definition The UNCCD defines LDN: “a state whereby the amount and quality of land resources necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security remain stable or increase within specified temporal and spatial scales and ecosystems”
3 Land Degradation Neutrality objectives 1) Maintain or improve the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services : Recognise ecological functions of different ecosystems; protect or restore vulnerable natural and managed ecosystems and safeguard the services these provide. Land degradation and desertification cause a decline in the many essential services provided by ecosystems including provision of food and fibre, carbon sequestration, regulation of water supply, conservation of (agro) biodiversity and cultural heritage.
3 Land Degradation Neutrality objectives 2) Seek synergies with other social, economic and environmental objectives: Sustainable land management practices reduce the levels and risk of land degradation, build soil carbon, support biomass production and sustain the productivity of the land, thus reducing pressure on natural systems. SLM practices improve soil fertility, water use efficiency, above and below ground biodiversity, and ultimately land productivity, which provides a wide range of benefits to society, while minimising adverse impacts on natural ecosystems and contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation 3) Reinforce responsible governance of land tenure: Govern land tenure for the benefit of all, with the emphasis on vulnerable and marginalised people.
Principles underpinning the vision of LDN 1.Maintain or enhance land-based natural capital : LDN is achieved when the quantity and quality of land-based natural capital is stable or increasing. 2.Protect human rights : Actions taken in pursuit of the LDN target should not compromise the rights of land users (especially small- scale farmers and indigenous populations) to derive economic benefit and increased food security from their activities on the land. 3.Respect national sovereignty : Governments set national targets guided by the global level of ambition while taking into account national circumstances. Governments decide the level of aspiration and how LDN targets are incorporated in national planning processes, policies and strategies.
Indicators and associated metrics for LDN 1. the UNCCD progress reporting indicators and associated metrics: land cover; land productivity; carbon stocks These are also being considered for monitoring SDG 15.3 indicator 15.3.1 “Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area”; 2. a biodiversity indicator (the Red List Index); 3. other SDG indicators, and; 4. other national indicators.
7 Principles related to achieving neutrality (1) 1. Balance economic, social and environmental sustainability 2. Base land use decisions on multi-variable assessments 3. Work within existing planning processes 4. Apply the response hierarchy
The LDN response hierarchy
Options for reversing land degradation Options for reversing land degradation: (i) restoration to the “ original state ” or some reference condition, or (ii) rehabilitation , that improves the land without the expectation of reaching pre- disturbance condition , or (iii) reclamation , to a different but useful state
7 Principles related to achieving neutrality (2) 5.Quantify projected land degradation 6.Apply a participatory process 7.Apply good governance by: Applying the principles and standards of the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land to ensure tenure rights and security in the pursuit of LDN; Developing a mechanism for the coordination of integrated land use and management planning across scales and sectors to ensure stakeholder input to national decision-making and reporting; Developing a mechanism for the review of implementation and recommendations for improvement; Ensuring accountability and transparency.
Indicators for land degradation L and Cover can be mapped by using nationally- refined FAO LCCS classes, where change in class may be characterised as positive or negative. Land productivity can be assessed through estimates of Net Primary Productivity (NPP, in tons Dry Matter per hectare per year: tDM/ha/yr) Carbon stocks can be assessed through estimates of Soil Organic Carbon stock (tons Carbon per hectare: tC/ha, to 30 cm)
The target equals the reference level because the goal of LDN is to achieve no net loss
Combining the indicators to evaluate LDN status Together the 3 indicators give good insight in the status of the land However, gains in 1 of these indicators cannot compensate for losses in the another because all 3 are complementary (not additive) components of land Therefore, the conceptual framework opts for: one out – all out
A hypothetical example of monitoring neutrality for a specific land unit: grassland Reference level in 2015 A1 Land cover: grassland Land Area: 15.000 ha Net Primary Productivity: 11,7 tDM/ha/yr Use: short grazing period Soil Organic Carbon: 54,4 tC/ha Status: not degraded Reference level in 2015 A2 Land cover: grassland Land Area: 25.000 ha Net Primary Productivity: 12,8 tDM/ha/yr Use: grazing excluded Soil Organic Carbon: 63,3 tC/ha Status: not degraded Reference level in 2015 A3 Land cover: grassland Land Area: 10.000 ha Net Primary Productivity: 6,5 tDM/ha/yr Use: long grazing excluded Soil Organic Carbon: 51,1 tC/ha Status: degraded Reference level in 2015 A4 Land cover: grassland Land Area: 40.000 ha Net Primary Productivity: 10,3 tDM/ha/yr Use: medium grazing period Soil Organic Carbon: 47,6 tC/ha Status: degraded Reference level in 2015 A5 Land cover: grassland Land Area: 10.000 ha Net Primary Productivity: 11,9 tDM/ha/yr Use: short grazing period Soil Organic Carbon: 54,6 tC/ha Status: not degraded
Landscape Reference level (in 2015) Decision Land cover: grassland Grazing Net Primary Productivity: 11,7 tDM/ha/yr period Soil Organic Carbon: 54,4 tC/ha extended Land cover: grassland Exclusion Net Primary Productivity: 12,8 tDM/ha/yr maintained Soil Organic Carbon: 63,3 tC/ha Land cover: grassland Long grazing Net Primary Productivity: 6,5 tDM/ha/yr period Soil Organic Carbon: 51,1 tC/ha continued Land cover: grassland Sustainable Net Primary Productivity: 10,3 tDM/ha/yr grazing Soil Organic Carbon: 47,6 tC/ha managemen t introduced Land cover: grassland Urban Net Primary Productivity: 11,9 tDM/ha/yr expansion Soil Organic Carbon: 54,6 tC/ha
Decision 2020-2025 ( 2015 ) Landscape = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) Grazing Net Primary Productivity: 7,1 tDM/ha/yr ( 11,7 ) period = Soil Organic Carbon: 54,1 tC/ha ( 54,4 ) extended = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) Exclusion = Net Primary Productivity: 13,1 tDM/ha/yr ( 12,8 ) maintained = Soil Organic Carbon: 63,8 tC/ha ( 63,3 ) = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) Long grazing Net Primary Productivity: 3,9 tDM/ha/yr ( 6,5 ) period Soil Organic Carbon: 40,7 tC/ha ( 51,1 ) continued = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) Sustainable = Net Primary Productivity: 10,8 tDM/ha/yr ( 10,3 ) grazing management Soil Organic Carbon: 51,2 tC/ha ( 47,6 ) introduced Land cover: urban ( grassland ) Urban Net Primary Productivity: 7,1 tDM/ha/yr ( 11,9 ) expansion = Soil Organic Carbon: 54,3 tC/ha ( 54,6 )
Landscape 2020-2025 ( 2015 ) Gain or Loss? = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) Loss: 15.000 ha significant Net Primary Productivity: 7,1 tDM/ha/yr ( 11,7 ) degradation = Soil Organic Carbon: 54,1 tC/ha ( 54,4 ) = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) No change in LDN Status: = Net Primary Productivity: 13,1 tDM/ha/yr ( 12,8 ) 25.000 ha stable = Soil Organic Carbon: 63,8 tC/ha ( 63,3 ) = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) Loss: 10.000 ha significant Net Primary Productivity: 3,9 tDM/ha/yr ( 6,5 ) degradation Soil Organic Carbon: 40,7 tC/ha ( 51,1 ) = Land cover: grassland ( grassland ) Gain: 40.000 ha significant = Net Primary Productivity: 10,8 tDM/ha/yr ( 10,3 ) improvement Soil Organic Carbon: 51,2 tC/ha ( 47,6 ) Land cover: urban ( grassland ) Loss: 10.000 ha Net Primary Productivity: 7,1 tDM/ha/yr ( 11,9 ) significant = Soil Organic Carbon: 54,3 tC/ha ( 54,6 ) degradation
Landscape Gain or Loss? Loss: 15.000 ha significant degradation No change in LDN Status: Land Degradation 25.000 ha stable Neutrality Status: Net Gain, 5.000 ha Loss: 10.000 ha significant degradation Gain: 40.000 ha significant improvement Loss: 10.000 ha significant degradation
Land governance Chapter 6.7 of conceptual framework for Land Degradation Neutrality speaks of Land Governance. The basis for responsible governance towards achieving LDN are: CFS Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of national food security (VGGTs)
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