ELD CAMPUS: Module - Land degradation vs sustainable land management

Learning objectives:  Understand causes, consequences and effects of land degradation, including the impact on different ecosystem services; Be able to categorise land degradation phenomena, esp. according to the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT); Understand the important role that soils play as carbon sink; Be able to categorise sustainable land management measures according to WOCAT and understand the positive long-term effects of these measures; Understand socio-economic barriers for the adoption of SLM measures and know about different political instruments to incentivise SLM; Be aware of the international policy framework of action against land degradation, e.g. the land degradation neutrality framework and the UN decade of ecosystem restoration. Contents: Definition, dimension and causes of land degradation; Sustainable land management (SLM) practices; Barriers for SLM adoption and gender concerns; Instruments to incentivise SLM and necessary action on different levels;  International policy framework of action against land degradation The United Nation’s Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) The land degradation neutrality (LDN) policy framework; and The UN Decade (2021-2030) on Ecosystem Restoration. Estimated duration of the lecture:  30 minutes Estimated time for further studies: 1-6 hours, depending on the level of previous knowledge and interests Further information: www.eld-initiative.org/en/knowledge-hub/eld-campus/