The global distribution of human-induced land degradation and areas at risk
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There is a strong correlation between water-related issues and human-induced land degradation: increased water stress and decreased freshwater availability are prominent in large contiguous degraded areas worldwide. Generally accepted indicators, such as soil erosion or land productivity, are less common. Cropland is a major contributor to global human-induced land degradation. The degree to which irrigated land is degraded suggests widespread unsustainable agricultural practices and intense pressures. The integration of three dimensions of land degradation – biophysical status, trends and drivers – provides us with insight into the spatial relationships between land conditions, degradation processes and pressures from human activities. The land degradation analysis verifies whether a decline in ecosystem services is of anthropogenic origin and thus can be classified as human-induced land degradation. The analysis of areas at risk does not discriminate between human and natural causes but estimates the potential impact of deteriorating ecosystem services.