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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #330998
Title: Summary for policymakers: Unlocking the sustainable potential of land resources. Evaluation systems, strategies and tools

Author
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item ARNALDS,, O. - University Of Iceland
item Bestelmeyer, Brandon
item BRIGNEZU, S. - University Of Kassel
item HAN, GUODONG - Inner Mongolian Agriculture University
item JOHNSON, M. - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item LU, Y. - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item MONTANARELLA, L. - European Commission-Joint Research Centre (JRC)
item PENGUE, W. - Non ARS Employee
item TOTH, G. - European Commission-Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Submitted to: United Nations Environment Programs (UNEP)
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2016
Publication Date: 6/17/2016
Citation: Herrick, J.E., Arnalds,, O., Bestelmeyer, B.T., Brignezu, S., Han, G., Johnson, M.V., Lu, Y., Montanarella, L., Pengue, W., Toth, G. 2016. Summary for policymakers: Unlocking the sustainable potential of land resources. Evaluation systems, strategies and tools. United Nations Environment Programs (UNEP). Job Number: DRI/2002/PA. 27 pp.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Land evaluation can be used by national policymakers, international development organizations, farmers, and conservationists to increase productivity, biodiversity conservation success, and to promote innovation. Land evaluation helps make better decisions about how to use the land, and is therefore essential to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (Sustainable Development Goal 15.3). An understanding of the longterm land potential is needed to (a) determine where production can be sustainably increased, and (b) identify land that could be restored. Matching land use with its potential allows the inherent long-term potential to be sustainably realized. Sustainability depends on (1) potential degradation resistance, and (2) potential resilience, which is the capacity to recover from degradation. Land with similar potential should therefore respond similarly to management. Policymakers, development organizations, and land managers, including farmers and conservationists, can use land evaluation to (a) increase productivity while adapting to climate change, (b) minimize social, economic, and environmental risks of land use change, (c) increase restoration and biodiversity conservation success, and (d) promote innovation and knowledge sharing.