BRICS Leaders Seek Swift Action on Land Degradation

Amid growing environmental threats, BRICS leaders are pushing for urgent measures to combat land degradation, a phenomenon severely impacting ecosystems and communities worldwide. The upcoming UN Land Degradation and Drought conference, scheduled for early next year, aims to align global efforts to curb the increasing degradation of arable lands, which jeopardizes food security, contributes to climate change, and drives displacement.

A 2022 report by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification underscores that land degradation affects over 3.2 billion people globally, with vast tracts of productive land turning barren due to unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, and climate-driven desertification. In Africa alone, nearly 65 percent of productive land is estimated to be degraded, creating severe food insecurity and diminishing economic stability across the continent. Africa’s African Union Development Agency (AUDA) has thus called for sustained investment and policy reforms to rehabilitate landscapes, integrating both advanced technologies and traditional knowledge to regenerate soil and restore ecological balance.

One promising development in combating land degradation includes Brazil’s successful reforestation programs, which combine native plant species and indigenous land management practices to revive forest ecosystems. Brazil’s approach, centered on the Amazon rainforest, aligns with calls from environmentalists for large-scale afforestation projects, especially in regions where soil fertility has sharply declined. The BRICS countries’ commitment to such programs was further cemented in their recent Johannesburg summit, where leaders reiterated the importance of collaborative, cross-border environmental initiatives that address climate change, promote sustainable agriculture, and rehabilitate degraded landscapes.

China’s initiative under the Belt and Road framework also exemplifies large-scale efforts to address ecological degradation. With extensive tree-planting campaigns across the northern provinces, China has focused on stabilizing eroded soil, reducing dust storms, and enhancing water retention. The Great Green Wall, stretching from Beijing to Inner Mongolia, is one of the world’s most ambitious land restoration efforts and has been widely studied as a model for ecological engineering. At the BRICS summit, China’s environmental experts highlighted the potential for similar projects globally, especially where soil erosion and desertification threaten local economies.

Indian programs targeting rural land rehabilitation have demonstrated the role that grassroots participation can play in tackling ecological decline. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, rural laborers are engaged in constructing water conservation structures, planting saplings, and managing waste, effectively restoring rural ecosystems while providing employment. While the environmental impact of this initiative has been positive, analysts stress the need for ongoing support, such as financing and technical assistance, to maintain these gains.

In Russia, the focus has shifted towards rehabilitating agricultural lands that were neglected post-Soviet Union dissolution. Collaborative research projects with European and Asian institutions aim to improve soil fertility and agricultural output in Russia’s vast, yet underutilized, landscapes. Experts in Moscow have advocated for BRICS support in scaling up restoration projects across Eurasia, aligning with calls for innovative land management strategies tailored to specific ecological conditions.

South Africa has launched several local initiatives to address severe land degradation exacerbated by prolonged droughts. Key projects include soil conservation efforts and community-based agricultural programs that integrate climate resilience measures. At the BRICS summit, South Africa’s representatives pointed to the critical need for financing climate adaptation strategies, particularly as desertification increasingly threatens biodiversity and agriculture-dependent livelihoods.

Multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility have been instrumental in funding large-scale restoration projects, offering BRICS countries an avenue for securing resources and technical support. However, funding alone is insufficient; implementation requires political will and local engagement to ensure sustainable impacts. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s use of advanced soil management technology, as demonstrated in Burkina Faso, showcases the potential for scaling interventions by combining mechanical innovation with community-led conservation strategies.