Drylands: The Vital Lifeline for Over 2 Billion People

Imagine a landscape painted with vibrant colors – not just green, but fiery reds, sun-bleached yellows, and the deep blues of a vast, clear sky. This isn’t just a postcard; it’s the reality of drylands, which encompass a whopping 41% of Earth’s land surface. Drylands, The Vital Lifeline for Over 2 Billion People”, we explore the vast and critical ecosystems that support a significant portion of the world’s population. Drylands are vast landscapes characterized by low rainfall, high evaporation rates, and sparse vegetation. Often misunderstood as barren and unproductive, drylands are home to more than 2 billion people and support a significant share of the world’s biodiversity and agriculture.

These vast regions, characterized by low precipitation, high variability in rainfall, and sparse vegetation, include some of the most iconic landscapes on our planet—from the expansive Sahara Desert to the arid plains of Central Asia. Despite their seemingly inhospitable nature, drylands are vibrant, dynamic ecosystems that provide essential resources and services to a significant portion of the global population.

That’s right, drylands aren’t just barren wastelands. They encompass a diverse range of ecosystems, from arid deserts to semi-arid grasslands. These regions may be dry, but they are teeming with life, with unique plant and animal species adapted to thrive in low-rainfall conditions.

Geographic Spread of Drylands

Drylands cover approximately 41% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, stretching across nearly every continent and encompassing a wide variety of landscapes — from scorching deserts to grassy savannas and dry woodlands. These areas are classified into four main types based on their aridity index: hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid zones. Despite their seemingly inhospitable nature, drylands are widespread and vital to global ecology and human habitation.

Africa: The Continent with the Largest Dryland Area

Africa contains the largest extent of drylands in the world, making up around 66% of its total land area. The Sahara Desert, the world’s largest hot desert, dominates the northern part of the continent, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Red Sea in the east. Beneath it lies the Sahel region, a vast semi-arid belt that transitions into the savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries such as Sudan, Niger, Mali, Ethiopia, and Somalia face significant dryland challenges but also maintain pastoral and agricultural traditions adapted to arid conditions. East Africa and southern parts of the continent, including Namibia and Botswana, also contain large expanses of semi-arid and dry sub-humid zones.

Asia: Diverse Drylands from Deserts to Highlands

Asia’s drylands are extensive and varied, ranging from Middle Eastern deserts to the high, cold deserts of Central Asia. The Arabian Desert spans countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, where extreme heat and minimal rainfall define the environment. Moving north, Central Asian nations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan possess arid and semi-arid grasslands and steppes, historically used by nomadic herders. China is home to the vast Gobi Desert, while India’s Thar Desert in Rajasthan exemplifies a densely populated arid zone that supports millions of people through traditional water harvesting systems and resilient agriculture.

Australia: A Dryland-Dominated Continent

Australia is often called the “driest inhabited continent” on Earth, with about 70% of its landmass falling within arid or semi-arid zones. The Outback, a term often used to describe the country’s remote and desert regions, is a prime example of Australian drylands. These areas are sparsely populated, but Aboriginal communities have historically thrived in these environments using traditional ecological knowledge. Agriculture, particularly sheep and cattle grazing, is practiced in more favorable semi-arid areas, although increasing climate variability poses major risks.

North and South America: Varied Dryland Landscapes

In North America, drylands stretch across the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and parts of Texas and California) and into northern Mexico, forming the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts. These areas are characterized by hot, arid conditions and support diverse desert ecosystems. Indigenous groups like the Navajo and Hopi have developed sustainable ways of living in these environments for centuries.
In South America, significant drylands are found in northeastern Brazil’s Caatinga biome, parts of Argentina’s Patagonia, and the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest places on Earth. Despite harsh conditions, many of these regions support agricultural activities like cattle ranching, dry farming, and viticulture.

Europe: Smaller but Significant Dryland Patches

Though Europe has a smaller share of drylands compared to other continents, parts of Southern Europe — especially Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Italy — contain semi-arid regions prone to desertification. The Mediterranean Basin, while historically rich in agriculture and trade, faces increasing aridity due to climate change and overexploitation of land and water resources. These regions are also among the most vulnerable in Europe to land degradation and water scarcity.

Polar and Mountainous Regions: Cold Drylands

Interestingly, drylands are not always hot. Cold deserts and high-altitude drylands exist in places like Tibet, Mongolia, and parts of the Andes and the Arctic. These regions receive very little precipitation, though temperatures remain low year-round. The cold, dry conditions of these landscapes present unique ecological challenges and are home to specialized plant and animal species.

Human Resilience and Adaptation

For centuries, people living in drylands have displayed remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of environmental extremes. These regions are often characterized by low and erratic rainfall, poor soils, and extreme temperatures, yet they are home to over 2 billion people worldwide. Through generations of experience and innovation, dryland communities have developed diverse strategies to not only survive but thrive in these challenging ecosystems. Their adaptive capacity offers valuable lessons in sustainability, resourcefulness, and climate resilience.

Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous Practices

One of the cornerstones of resilience in drylands is the wealth of traditional ecological knowledge passed down through generations. Indigenous peoples and local communities have long relied on time-tested practices finely tuned to the dryland environment. For example, the Berbers of North Africa, the Bedouins of the Middle East, and the Raikas of India have adapted their pastoral lifestyles to follow seasonal grazing patterns, ensuring both animal and land health. Similarly, in the Sahel, farmers practice intercropping and agroforestry, combining crops like millet and sorghum with nitrogen-fixing trees such as Faidherbia albida to improve soil fertility and moisture retention.

Water Harvesting Techniques

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing challenges in drylands, and over the years, communities have devised ingenious water harvesting methods to overcome it. Ancient techniques such as qanats (underground canals in Iran), step wells in India, and terraced catchments in Africa collect and conserve water in arid zones. These systems not only provide water for irrigation and domestic use but also recharge underground aquifers. In modern times, some communities have revived these practices in combination with newer technologies like drip irrigation, solar-powered pumps, and rainwater harvesting tanks to ensure water security in increasingly unpredictable climates.

Sustainable Grazing and Pastoral Mobility

Drylands often support nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralist societies that move with their herds in search of seasonal pastures and water. This mobility is a key adaptive strategy, helping to prevent overgrazing and allowing vegetation to recover. In the Horn of Africa, for instance, pastoralist groups such as the Somali, Borana, and Afar have relied on intricate social networks, livestock-sharing agreements, and indigenous weather forecasting to navigate their arid landscapes. Maintaining and supporting these systems is essential for ecological balance and the economic well-being of millions who depend on livestock.

Diversified Livelihood Strategies

Many dryland inhabitants do not rely solely on farming or herding. Instead, they often pursue multiple income-generating activities to reduce vulnerability. These include handicrafts, seasonal labor migration, small-scale trade, eco-tourism, and non-timber forest products like gums and resins. Women in particular play a critical role in managing household resources, cultivating home gardens, and engaging in informal markets. Diversifying livelihoods not only helps households absorb climate shocks but also builds long-term resilience by spreading risk across various economic activities.

Community-Based Natural Resource Management

Over the past few decades, there has been growing recognition of the role of community-led governance in sustaining dryland resources. Local institutions often have detailed customary laws and norms regarding land use, water access, and grazing rights. Programs that support participatory land use planning, collective rangeland management, and community forestry have shown promise in countries like Niger, Kenya, and Mexico. Empowering communities to manage their own resources increases accountability, reduces conflict, and ensures that decisions are made based on local realities and needs.

Education, Innovation, and Technology

Access to education and modern technologies has also played a crucial role in boosting resilience in drylands. Mobile phones help farmers and pastoralists access weather updates, market prices, and veterinary services. Geospatial tools assist in monitoring land degradation and water availability, while climate-smart agriculture practices, such as drought-tolerant crop varieties and soil conservation techniques, are helping dryland communities adapt to climate change. In many regions, the combination of local knowledge and scientific innovation is proving to be a powerful tool for sustainable development.

Ecological Importance of Drylands

Drylands are often misunderstood as barren, lifeless regions, but in reality, they are ecologically rich and diverse ecosystems that play a crucial role in sustaining global environmental balance. These vast landscapes, which include deserts, grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and dry forests, are home to unique flora and fauna, many of which have evolved specialized adaptations to survive in water-scarce conditions. From the succulent plants of the Namib Desert to the fast-footed antelope of the Sahel and the cryptobiotic soils of the American Southwest, drylands support biodiversity that is not only rare but vital to regional ecological stability.

Home to Unique Biodiversity

Despite harsh climatic conditions, drylands host an astonishing variety of plant and animal life, many of which are endemic (found nowhere else on Earth). Species in these environments have evolved unique survival strategies, such as deep-rooted trees like acacias, cacti that store water, and animals like the fennec fox, which can survive without direct water intake. These organisms form intricate food webs and ecosystems that are finely tuned to the dry climate. Dryland biodiversity also includes crop wild relatives like wild barley and sorghum, which are critical for future food security in the face of climate change.

Carbon Sequestration and Climate Regulation

Drylands play an important role in the global carbon cycle, especially through their soil organic matter and vegetation. Although they are not as lush as tropical forests, dryland soils store significant amounts of carbon due to the large extent of land they cover, around 41% of the Earth’s surface. Practices such as sustainable grazing, afforestation, and regenerative agriculture in drylands can enhance carbon sequestration, making these regions allies in the fight against climate change. Conversely, land degradation in drylands through overgrazing or deforestation can release stored carbon, contributing to global warming.

Soil Stabilization and Erosion Control

Dryland vegetation — including shrubs, grasses, and trees — plays a crucial role in preventing soil erosion by anchoring soil with their roots and reducing wind and water runoff. In many semi-arid and arid zones, vegetative cover helps maintain soil structure and fertility. When this vegetation is degraded or removed, soils become vulnerable to wind and water erosion, leading to desertification and loss of arable land. Protecting dryland ecosystems, therefore, is essential for maintaining soil health and preventing land degradation, which directly affects food security and livelihoods.

Water Cycle Regulation

While rainfall is scarce and erratic in drylands, these ecosystems still play a key part in the local and regional water cycles. Dryland vegetation helps to regulate surface runoff, facilitate groundwater recharge, and reduce evapotranspiration rates through natural mulching and canopy cover. Well-maintained dryland systems contribute to hydrological balance, especially in watersheds and river basins that feed into densely populated areas. Wetlands and seasonal rivers in dryland zones are especially important for biodiversity and water storage, acting as ecological buffers during drought periods.

Habitat for Migratory Species

Many dryland regions serve as critical stopover sites and breeding grounds for migratory birds and wildlife. For example, the Sahel region in Africa provides resting and feeding grounds for millions of migratory birds traveling between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Similarly, dryland grasslands in North and South America support large populations of migratory mammals and birds. Protecting these habitats is essential not only for biodiversity conservation but also for maintaining global ecological networks and species migration routes.

Ecological Buffer Zones

Drylands often act as ecological buffers between more sensitive ecosystems and human-dominated landscapes. For example, savannas and shrublands located between deserts and rainforests or agricultural zones help mitigate the spread of land degradation and act as natural firebreaks. These transition zones also support multiple ecosystem services such as pollination, pest control, and seed dispersal, which benefit adjacent farming areas and contribute to ecological balance.

A Vital Lifeline for Over 2 Billion People

Drylands are far more than just vast stretches of arid land — they are a critical lifeline for over 2 billion people worldwide, supporting livelihoods, cultures, and economies across more than 100 countries. Despite the perception that these areas are barren or inhospitable, drylands are dynamic human habitats that sustain nearly one-third of the global population. From the deserts of North Africa to the dry steppes of Central Asia, the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa to the arid plateaus of India and Latin America, these regions play a central role in human survival and socio-economic development.

Agricultural and Pastoral Economies

The majority of dryland populations rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods. Dryland farmers grow hardy crops such as millet, sorghum, barley, and pulses, which are well-suited to low-rainfall conditions. These crops form the dietary staples of millions. Pastoralism is equally vital — many communities, including the Fulani of West Africa, the Mongolian herders, and the Rajasthanis in India, depend on mobile livestock systems that make use of vast dry rangelands. Livestock provides not just food, but income, transport, social capital, and cultural identity.

Cultural and Indigenous Heritage

Drylands are also rich in cultural diversity and indigenous heritage. Countless ethnic groups, languages, belief systems, and traditional practices have evolved in response to the harsh yet beautiful conditions of arid and semi-arid zones. Indigenous knowledge in drylands — from water conservation techniques to seasonal migration patterns — has helped communities adapt and survive for generations. Celebrated art, music, textiles, and oral traditions from dryland regions contribute immensely to the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Economic Contributions and Natural Resources

Drylands are often rich in natural resources, including minerals, oil, gas, and valuable plant species used for medicine, cosmetics, and food. Gum Arabic from the Sahel, argan oil from Morocco, and frankincense from Somalia are just a few examples of dryland products with global economic value. Furthermore, many dryland regions are hubs for tourism, especially due to their unique landscapes, historical monuments, and wildlife reserves. Desert safaris, cultural festivals, and eco-tourism initiatives generate income and employment for local populations.

Food and Water Security

With the global population rising and climate change threatening more fertile regions, drylands are becoming increasingly important for ensuring food and water security. Despite water scarcity, many drylands have developed resilient agricultural systems that can withstand climatic variability. For instance, traditional terracing, zai pits, and rainwater harvesting are used to make farming viable. In some areas, underground aquifers and seasonal rivers offer crucial sources of freshwater for communities, agriculture, and wildlife.

Urbanization and Infrastructure Growth

Rapid urbanization in dryland regions is transforming economic and social landscapes. Cities such as Phoenix (USA), Cairo (Egypt), Lima (Peru), and Jodhpur (India) lie within drylands and are experiencing population booms. Infrastructure development, including roads, solar energy projects, telecommunications, and education facilities, is increasingly focused on making these regions more livable and productive. With strategic planning and investment, drylands can support sustainable urban development and renewable energy expansion, especially given their abundant solar resources.

Social Challenges and Resilience

Despite their importance, many dryland populations face significant challenges — poverty, food insecurity, water scarcity, and land degradation. These pressures are often worsened by climate change, conflict, weak governance, and limited access to services. Yet, the resilience shown by dryland communities is inspiring. With adequate support, such as inclusive policies, climate-smart technologies, education, and rights-based land reforms, drylands can continue to sustain billions and become models for adaptive and sustainable living.

The Role of Sustainable Land Management (SLM)

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is the cornerstone of resilience and productivity in dryland regions. As over 2 billion people depend on these fragile ecosystems, ensuring that land remains fertile, productive, and ecologically balanced is not just a conservation imperative — it’s a human development priority. SLM refers to practices and policies that balance environmental protection, economic viability, and social equity, enabling land users to meet current needs without compromising the resources for future generations.

Combating Land Degradation and Desertification

One of the most pressing challenges facing drylands is land degradation, which affects over 70% of dryland areas globally. Unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and climate change accelerate soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and desertification. SLM directly tackles these issues by promoting land restoration, maintaining vegetative cover, and conserving soil and water. Techniques like contour farming, agroforestry, crop rotation, mulching, and water harvesting have proven effective in reversing degradation and improving soil health.

Improving Agricultural Productivity

SLM empowers farmers and pastoralists in drylands to boost yields while preserving the natural resource base. By integrating traditional knowledge with modern science, SLM enables climate-resilient agriculture. For instance, drought-tolerant crops, integrated pest management, and efficient irrigation systems like drip and sprinkler irrigation help optimize land use. The result is higher productivity, food security, and reduced vulnerability to climate shocks such as droughts and floods.

Water Conservation and Management

Water scarcity is a defining characteristic of drylands, making sustainable water management a critical component of SLM. Techniques such as rainwater harvesting, sand dams, percolation tanks, and recharge wells help communities capture, store, and reuse water efficiently. At the landscape level, watershed restoration and reforestation help regulate surface runoff, reduce evaporation, and improve groundwater recharge. These practices not only improve water availability for agriculture and domestic use but also enhance ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection.

Enhancing Livelihoods and Community Involvement

SLM is most successful when it is locally driven and community-led. By involving local stakeholders in planning and implementation, SLM encourages ownership, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building. Communities learn to adopt livelihood diversification strategies such as beekeeping, ecotourism, or value-added agriculture (e.g., producing and selling aloe-based cosmetics), which reduce pressure on land and increase economic resilience. In areas like the Sahel and Rajasthan, women-led cooperatives play a vital role in managing natural resources through SLM, demonstrating their potential for empowering marginalized groups.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Drylands are particularly vulnerable to climate variability, but SLM offers a toolbox for climate adaptation. By improving soil moisture retention, enhancing vegetation cover, and protecting watersheds, SLM helps stabilize microclimates and reduce disaster risk. Moreover, healthy dryland ecosystems act as carbon sinks, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. When practiced at scale, SLM contributes to national climate goals and global frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Policy Support and Institutional Frameworks

For SLM to succeed, it must be backed by robust policy frameworks, research, and financing. Governments, NGOs, and international agencies are increasingly recognizing the importance of investing in drylands through land tenure reforms, subsidies for sustainable practices, public-private partnerships, and incentives for ecosystem restoration. Programs such as The Great Green Wall in Africa, India’s National Watershed Development Program, and FAO’s Dryland Forestry Initiatives show how coordinated action can scale up SLM across vast dryland territories.

Challenges Faced by Dryland Communities

Dryland communities, which make up more than one-quarter of the global population, face a unique set of interconnected challenges that threaten their livelihoods, health, and resilience. These challenges are shaped by both natural limitations, such as scarce water and poor soils, and growing external pressures, including climate change, political marginalization, and land degradation. Understanding these challenges is essential for designing effective policies and solutions that empower communities and protect fragile dryland ecosystems.

Water Scarcity and Unpredictable Rainfall

Perhaps the most defining and persistent challenge in drylands is water scarcity. Rainfall in these regions is infrequent, seasonal, and highly variable, making it difficult for communities to rely on stable water sources for agriculture, livestock, and household use. Extended periods of drought are common, often leading to crop failure, food shortages, and increased competition over shrinking water supplies. In many dryland regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, groundwater depletion and poorly managed water systems worsen the crisis.

Land Degradation and Desertification

Land degradation is both a cause and a consequence of poverty in drylands. Unsustainable farming, overgrazing, deforestation, and poorly planned infrastructure lead to soil erosion, nutrient loss, and the expansion of desert-like conditions — a process known as desertification. According to the United Nations, up to 70% of drylands are already degraded, threatening food security and biodiversity. Once fertile lands become unproductive, communities are forced to migrate or overuse other areas, creating a vicious cycle of ecological stress and displacement.

Food and Nutrition Insecurity

The combined impact of drought, degraded soils, and low agricultural productivity leads to chronic food insecurity in many dryland regions. Households often face seasonal hunger, malnutrition, and limited dietary diversity, especially where food production is entirely rain-dependent. Livestock losses due to drought or disease can further undermine food access. Women and children are especially vulnerable, with high rates of anemia, stunting, and undernutrition reported in many dryland communities.

Poverty and Limited Economic Opportunities

Economic marginalization is a harsh reality in many dryland zones. Communities often have limited access to markets, credit, infrastructure, and education, trapping them in a cycle of poverty. Youth unemployment is particularly high, pushing many to migrate to urban areas or turn to risky or unsustainable livelihoods. In many cases, traditional pastoralist and farming systems are undervalued in national development agendas, leading to inadequate public investment in these regions.

Climate Change Vulnerability

Drylands are among the most climate-sensitive ecosystems on the planet. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events have a direct impact on agricultural yields, water resources, and health. With fewer coping mechanisms and limited government support, dryland communities are often left to manage the consequences of climate change on their own. This can lead to conflicts over natural resources, particularly in areas where water or grazing lands are shared across ethnic or political lines.

Conflict, Displacement, and Insecurity

Environmental stress in drylands can fuel conflict and forced migration, especially where governance is weak or resources are scarce. Tensions over land, water, and grazing rights have escalated into violent clashes in many parts of the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and Central Asia. Additionally, extremist groups often exploit socio-economic vulnerabilities in remote dryland regions, further destabilizing local communities. Displacement caused by environmental or political conflict places immense strain on host communities and infrastructure.

Gender Inequality and Social Exclusion

In many dryland societies, women bear a disproportionate burden of hardship. They are primarily responsible for fetching water, gathering firewood, and producing food — tasks that become harder as resources dwindle. Yet, women often lack legal land rights, access to credit, and inclusion in decision-making processes. Similarly, marginalized groups such as indigenous peoples, nomadic herders, and ethnic marginalized groups are frequently excluded from formal governance and development programs.

Success Stories from Dryland Regions

Despite the numerous challenges dryland communities face, there are remarkable success stories from around the world that prove drylands are not doomed to decline. With community-led action, supportive policies, and sustainable land practices, many regions have not only reversed environmental degradation but also improved livelihoods, restored ecosystems, and inspired global action. These stories are a testament to the power of resilience, adaptation, and innovation in some of the harshest environments on Earth.

1. The Great Green Wall – Africa’s Ambitious Reforestation Movement

One of the most iconic and large-scale environmental projects in drylands is the Great Green Wall initiative in the Sahel region of Africa. Launched by the African Union in 2007, the project aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land across 11 countries from Senegal to Djibouti by planting trees, improving soil health, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The initiative has already:

• Restored over 18 million hectares of land
• Created thousands of jobs, especially for youth and women
• Increased food security and incomes for millions of people
• Helped combat desertification and climate change

Countries like Ethiopia, Niger, and Senegal have made major progress, turning once-barren lands into productive agroforestry systems.

2. Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) – Niger

In the semi-arid lands of Niger, local farmers have pioneered a low-cost, community-driven technique known as Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). Instead of planting new trees, farmers identify and protect naturally occurring tree stumps, allowing them to regrow. With minimal tools and cost, FMNR has:

• Restored over 5 million hectares of degraded land
• Increased crop yields and biodiversity
• Boosted resilience to drought and soil erosion

The initiative has improved food security for over 2.5 million people and is now being replicated across Africa and Asia.

3. Water Harvesting and Traditional Wisdom in Rajasthan, India

The Thar Desert in Rajasthan is one of India’s most arid zones. Yet, through a revival of traditional water harvesting systems such as johads, baoris, and check dams, communities have transformed drylands into vibrant agricultural hubs. The NGO Tarun Bharat Sangh, led by Rajendra Singh, played a key role in restoring over 11,000 water bodies across 1,200 villages. As a result:

• Groundwater levels rose significantly
• Rivers that had dried up for decades began flowing again
• Agricultural productivity and livestock health improved
• Migration rates fell as people returned to farming

Singh’s efforts earned him the Stockholm Water Prize, known as the “Water Nobel.”

Read more: Rajendra Singh: The Waterman of India

4. Permaculture in the Australian Outback

In Australia’s arid interior, farmers and landowners have embraced permaculture design principles to regenerate degraded land, boost soil fertility, and create self-sustaining ecosystems. By using swales, mulching, rotational grazing, and native plant restoration, they have:

• Increased resilience to wildfires and drought
• Restored biodiversity and reduced erosion
• Built local food systems in harsh climates.

These innovations are being adopted by Indigenous communities and conservation groups, blending traditional ecological knowledge with modern science.

5. China’s Loess Plateau – A Model for Landscape Restoration

Once known as one of the most eroded and impoverished drylands, the Loess Plateau in north-central China has undergone one of the largest ecological restoration projects in history. Through reforestation, terracing, and sustainable farming, the Chinese government and local communities have:

• Restored over 35,000 square kilometers of land
• Reduced runoff and soil erosion by over 70%
• Increased agricultural productivity and rural incomes
• Brought back forests, wildlife, and stable livelihoods

The Loess Plateau is now seen as a global model for large-scale ecosystem restoration, demonstrating that even severely degraded drylands can be revived with coordinated effort.

Policy and Global Commitment

The future of drylands and the well-being of over two billion people who depend on them rest not only in local resilience and innovation but also in strong policy support and global commitment. International organizations, national governments, and local authorities must collaborate to develop inclusive policies that safeguard dryland ecosystems while empowering the communities who call them home.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

At the forefront of global dryland advocacy is the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement focused specifically on land degradation, desertification, and drought (DLDD). It plays a pivotal role in:

• Promoting sustainable land management (SLM) practices
• Mobilizing funding and scientific research
• Facilitating collaboration between countries and regions
• Supporting capacity-building for dryland communities

The UNCCD’s flagship initiative, Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), aims to balance land degradation with restoration efforts, ensuring that future land use is both productive and sustainable.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dryland conservation and restoration are directly linked to several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:

• SDG 15: Life on Land – which calls for combating desertification and restoring degraded land.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – recognizing that sustainable dryland management is critical for climate resilience.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – Drylands play a key role in food security, especially in arid regions.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – efficient water use and management are vital in dryland regions.

Integrating dryland issues into national SDG strategies ensures coordinated action and increased investment.

National and Regional Policies

Many countries with extensive drylands have begun incorporating climate-resilient and land-friendly policies into their national frameworks. Examples include:

• India’s National Afforestation Programme and Desert Development Programme.
• Niger’s 3N Initiative (Nigeriens Nourish Nigeriens) for food security and resilience.
• China’s Grain-for-Green Program is aimed at converting marginal lands to forests and grasslands.
• The African Union’s Great Green Wall strategy supports reforestation and sustainable farming across the Sahel.

However, policy implementation often requires strong governance, inclusive participation, and equitable distribution of resources, especially for marginalized communities.

International Funding and Technical Assistance

To scale successful dryland solutions, significant financial and technical support is needed. Key players include:

• Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• Green Climate Fund (GCF)
• World Bank and regional development banks
• Bilateral aid agencies and philanthropic organizations

Such funding supports projects on water harvesting, agroforestry, reforestation, and climate adaptation. Moreover, technical assistance and knowledge-sharing platforms help transfer innovations across regions.

Need for Cross-Border Cooperation

Many drylands span across national borders, such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia. Cross-border cooperation is essential to manage shared water basins, migratory routes, and trade corridors. Regional frameworks like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM) foster transboundary collaboration on climate resilience and sustainable land use.

Conclusion

Drylands are not wastelands — they are life-sustaining, culturally rich, and ecologically vital landscapes. Recognizing their importance and investing in their future is essential for global food security, climate resilience, and equitable development. With over 2 billion lives intertwined with these fragile environments, the world must prioritize dryland conservation and development. By prioritizing sustainable development and fostering global cooperation, we can ensure that these crucial regions continue to thrive and support the diverse life forms, human and otherwise, that depend on them.

Let’s get the conversation flowing! Share your thoughts on drylands and how we can protect them in the comments below.

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