Today’s facts come from the United Nations. June 17th was “World Day to Combat Desertification.” With that in mind, here are the facts:
-
2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture, but 52% of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by soil degradation.
-
Land degradation affects 1.5 billion people globally.
-
Arable land loss estimated at 30 to 35 times the historical rate.
-
Due to drought and desertification each year 12 million hectares are lost (23 hectares/minute!), where 20 million tons of grain could have been grown.
-
74% of the poor (42% of the very and 32% of the moderately poor) are directly affected by land degradation globally.
Image source: Metropolitan Museum of Art
