On World Environment Day, we commemorate the gifts our Earth provides, pledging to protect it for the future. The theme this year is land restoration: turning degraded land into healthy, productive land and preventing desertification. Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme.
The degradation of land is one of the most critical environmental issues across the globe. Which resulted in food insecurity, water scarcity, and displacement due to climate change. One of the solid examples of land degradation is desertification, where fertile land becomes desert. Climate change is worsening, increasing droughts, and placing even greater stress on already degraded ecosystems.
But World Environment Day is not only about pointing out issues; it is also an occasion for promising opportunities. Additionally, land restoration is our best hope to address these challenges. Degraded land can be restored to:
- Boost food security: Restored land will enable people to grow more food and raise livestock.
- Water security: healthy land better absorbs water, helping reduce runoff and refill groundwater.
- Combat climate change: Carbon is absorbed in soils! It has atmosphere-control properties.
- Support biodiversity: Land restoration creates a variety for new flora and fauna.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), a global call to action aiming to massively scale up restoration, is a case in point. The consultation meeting on World Environment Day 2024, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighted the need for special attention, especially in barren and semi-barren regions.
What can you do?
Restoring Nature is everyone’s Responsibility Here’s how you can contribute:
Plant trees: Trees are everything to life on earth. Plant trees around your property or in your community. You can also donate to tree-planting organizations. The health of the soil as well as rivers depends on the tree cover being restored.
Spread the Awareness: Discuss with your relatives or friends why we need the restoration of land. Your social media can be a place to help spread awareness for environmental conservation and restoration.
Also Read: https://whatthenepal.com/2024/06/05/limi-valley-hidden-gem-in-the-heart-of-the-himalayas/
