Call for good practices in sustainable management and restoration of agricultural lands and soils – Food and Agriculture Organization

Global Initiative for Sustainable Management and Restoration of Agricultural Lands and Soils

Background and Urgency

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that 1.66 billion hectares of land worldwide are degraded due to human activities, with over 60% of this degradation occurring on agricultural land. Since 95% of global food production depends on healthy soil and land, restoring these degraded areas and adopting sustainable land management practices are critical to achieving food security and environmental sustainability.

Significance of Grasslands, Pasturelands, and Rangelands

Grasslands, pasturelands, and rangelands cover approximately 54% of the Earth’s land surface. These ecosystems provide essential services including:

• Carbon sequestration
• Biodiversity conservation
• Livelihood support for millions of people

However, these ecosystems face increasing threats: 13% of grasslands are degraded, and 34% exhibit reduced functionality due to pressures such as overgrazing, leading to soil erosion and decreased productivity.

Joint Development of the Global Report on Good Practices

In alignment with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 Decision 19, which focuses on avoiding, reducing, and reversing land and soil degradation in agricultural lands, FAO and the United Nations Environment Programme-International Ecosystem Management Partnership (UNEP-IEMP), hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have agreed to jointly develop the Global Report on Good Practices in Sustainable Management and Restoration of Agricultural Lands and Soils.

The report aims to highlight proven solutions that restore soil health and enhance the resilience of agri-food systems, directly supporting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Structure and Call for Submissions

The Global Report will be published in two volumes, each focusing on a major land use system. Currently, submissions are invited for Volume I, which concentrates on Rangelands, Pasturelands, and Grasslands. This volume will serve as a vital resource to scale up effective sustainable land management practices globally.

The report is scheduled to be presented at key international events such as UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia (August 2026) and other relevant forums, contributing to the global agenda on land degradation neutrality and ecosystem restoration.

Alignment with Global Frameworks and SDGs

This initiative supports multiple international frameworks and Sustainable Development Goals, including:

• UNCCD Land Degradation Neutrality Targets (SDG 15)
• UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 (SDG 13, SDG 15)
• Global Soil Partnership Action Framework 2022-2030 (SDG 2, SDG 15)
• International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026 (SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 15)
• International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (SDG 5: Gender Equality)
• FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 focusing on better production, nutrition, environment, and life (SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 12, SDG 15)
• FAO Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resources Management (SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 15)
• UNEP Medium-Term Strategy 2026-2029 including land degradation neutrality (SDG 13, SDG 15)

Submission Guidelines for Good Practice Case Studies

FAO and UNEP-IEMP invite stakeholders to submit impactful good practice case studies that demonstrate successful approaches to managing and restoring rangelands, pasturelands, and grasslands. A “Good Practice” is defined as a field-tested approach implemented in a specific geographical area with measurable benefits sustained over at least three years.

Eligible Stakeholders

• Government agencies
• Research institutions
• Non-governmental organizations
• Pastoralist and farmer organizations
• Indigenous groups

Mandatory Selection Criteria

1. Geographically Defined: The practice must be implemented in a clearly identified area.
2. Applies Restoration Principles: Aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration core principles.
3. Delivers Measurable Benefits: Demonstrates positive outcomes related to land degradation neutrality, such as improved resilience, ecosystem health, food security, productivity, gender equality, economic viability, livelihoods, or cultural value.
4. Proven and Scalable: Shows documented success and potential for scaling or adaptation.
5. Creates Synergies: Contributes to at least two of the three Rio Conventions: UNCCD, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Submission Process

Case studies must be prepared in English using the official Case Study Template, which guides contributors to provide evidence aligned with the selection criteria. The template is available here.

Submission Deadline: 13 April 2026

Submission Email: Completed templates and any supporting materials should be sent to the designated email address provided by FAO and UNEP-IEMP.

Review and Selection

All submissions will undergo a transparent two-stage review process conducted by a multidisciplinary Expert Review Panel. The process includes:

• Eligibility check
• Detailed scoring based on the selection criteria

The panel will select at least ten top-ranking case studies representing diverse regions, ecosystems, and approaches for inclusion in the Global Report.

Contact Information

For inquiries related to the call for submissions, selection criteria, or the case study template, please contact:

• FAO: Dr. Rakotondramanga Soalandy ([email protected])
• UNEP-IEMP: Ms. Tatirose Vijitpan ([email protected])

Further details are available at the UNEP-IEMP website: More Information >>>

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article emphasizes the importance of healthy soil and land for food production, noting that 95% of food production depends on these resources.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Grasslands and rangelands provide critical services such as carbon sequestration, which is directly linked to climate change mitigation.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The focus on restoring degraded land, sustainable management of agricultural lands, and protecting grasslands, pasturelands, and rangelands aligns with this goal.
4. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • The article mentions gender equality as one of the measurable benefits in the good practice case studies.
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Promoting sustainable management practices and restoration of soils contributes to sustainable production systems.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified in the Article

1. SDG 2 – Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, help maintain ecosystems, and strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change.
2. SDG 13 – Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
3. SDG 15 – Target 15.3: 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.
4. SDG 5 – Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property.
5. SDG 12 – Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress

1. Land Degradation Neutrality Outcomes:
   • Resilience of ecosystems
   • Ecosystem health
   • Food security
   • Productivity of agricultural lands
   • Gender equality
   • Economic viability and livelihoods
   • Cultural value
2. Degradation and Functionality of Grasslands:
   • Percentage of grasslands degraded (e.g., 13% degraded, 34% reduced function)
   • Soil erosion rates
   • Carbon sequestration capacity
3. Implementation of Restoration Principles:
   • Application of UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration principles
   • Synergies with Rio Conventions (UNCCD, CBD, UNFCCC)

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fao.org