World Loses Trillions of Dollars Worth of Nature's Benefits Each Year Due to Land Degradation

Experts estimate the value of ecosystem services worldwide forfeited due to land degradation at US $6.3-10.6 trillion annually, or the equivalent of 10-17 percent of global GDP, a new report suggests.  An estimated 50 million people may be forced to seek new homes and livelihoods within 10 years.  That many migrants assembled would constitute the world's 28th largest country by population.

To better inform the tradeoffs involved in land use choices around the world, experts have assessed the value of ecosystem services provided by land resources such as food, poverty reduction, clean water, climate and disease regulation and nutrients cycling.

Their report estimates the value of ecosystem services worldwide forfeited due to land degradation at a staggering US $6.3 trillion to $10.6 trillion annually, or the equivalent of 10-17% of global GDP.

Furthermore, the problem threatens to force the migration of millions of people from affected areas.  An estimated 50 million people may be forced to seek new homes and livelihoods within 10 years.  That many migrants assembled would constitute the world's 28th largest country by population.

Effectively addressing land degradation could help avert that humanitarian crisis and add US $75.6 trillion to annual world income, according to the report, "The Value of Land," produced by The Economics of Land Degradation Initiative.
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Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: "This study by ELD shows the immediate and global impact of land degradation and highlights that actions to tackle it pay off. Increased land degradation is also one of the factors that can lead to migration and it is being exacerbated by climate change.  On our planet, the area affected by drought has doubled in 40 years.  One third of Africa is threatened by desertification.  As President Juncker said in his State of the Union speech last week, climate refugees will become a new challenge -- if we do not act swiftly.  We need to be as ambitious as possible in the negotiations for COP 21 in Paris."

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