Every year, intensive livestock farming, agriculture, urbanization, and cementing degrade soil globally, causing losses equivalent to an area the size of Brazil. Italy is no exception: according to the latest ISPRA report, in 2023, 72.5 km² were covered by cement, compared to just 8 km² of natural areas restored. It’s as if we cemented an area equivalent to ten thousand football fields.

In light of these alarming statistics and research center warnings, it seems paradoxical that the UN Conference of the Parties on Desertification (COP16), taking place in Riyadh until December 13, receives so little attention. Following the summits on biodiversity and climate, COP16 on soil completes the trilogy of key 2024 meetings. However, it lacks the media and political coverage of the previous two, reflecting a concerning lack of interest in this crucial ecosystem.

Why should we care more about our land?

Soil is a vital, limited, and irreplaceable resource that acts as the interface between land, air, and water while hosting much of the biosphere. Healthy soil is fundamental to the economy, society, and environment. It enhances resilience to climate change and extreme events, mitigating landslides and floods. Additionally, it provides essential ecosystem services, such as the production of food and raw materials, fostering their diversification (this diversification is precisely why we boast one of the most varied cuisines in the world!).

Neglecting soil harms the environment and our economy. For example, in Italy alone, the loss of ecosystem services due to soil degradation results in an annual economic loss estimated at 7 to 9 billion euros and a natural capital loss of 19 to 25 billion euros for the period 2006–2023.

In collaboration with FAI (Italian Environmental Fund), our CEO Alessandro Leonardi has explained the environmental benefits provided by soil and why, in addition to preventing soil consumption, it is equally essential to care for and manage it properly.

Grasslands and Pastures: A Virtuous Example of Soil Conservation

Among the sectors responsible for soil degradation are intensive agricultural practices that impoverish the soil with fertilizers and pesticides, also impacting biodiversity and human health. One solution is the use of grasslands and pastures, semi-natural ecosystems that do not require plowing, preserving soil integrity. A prime example is the VerdeRosa Farm.

Protecting soil requires a profound cultural shift that recognizes it as an ecosystem to be safeguarded, not a resource to be exploited. At Etifor, we collaborate with companies and public organizations to implement projects that place nature at the center of decision-making. But now, let’s see what is happening at the international level.

COP16 Desertification: Key Topics of the Conference

Dual Approach: Negotiation and Action

As with biodiversity and climate change, the success of COP16 will depend on the ability to turn commitments into concrete actions. The first significant innovation of this COP, which is dedicated to soil, is adopting a dual approach based on negotiation and action. The negotiation phase focuses on political statements to improve soil management and address drought, while the action phase targets concrete interventions to protect and regenerate soil. With this approach, Riyadh aims to facilitate the implementation of proposed solutions. Let’s see if it works!

Financing: Promoting Joint Initiatives

As with other environmental challenges, the negotiations focus primarily on the financial commitments of developed countries. However, unlike COP16 on biodiversity or COP29 on climate change, there is still no clear definition of binding objectives or adequate financial resources, leaving the discussions anchored in voluntary declarations.
Therefore, a dialogue is expected to promote joint initiatives to accelerate soil regeneration by 2030, to restore at least one billion hectares. Proposed solutions will aim to enhance preparedness, response, and resilience to drought, ensure that land continues to provide nature-based solutions for climate and biodiversity, and increase resilience to growing sand and dust storms.

Land Tenure and Indigenous Populations

A central theme of the conference is the role of indigenous peoples in protecting biodiversity and soil. At Cali, one of the primary outcomes was establishing a permanent body to represent indigenous communities and ensure their active participation in negotiations.
In this context, the main focus is on protecting and guaranteeing land rights for indigenous populations to prevent and reduce the phenomenon of land grabbing.
Land grabbing occurs when vast areas of land deemed “unused” are sold to third parties, such as companies or foreign governments, without the consent of local communities that have lived on or farmed these lands for years. Strengthening land rights is essential to ensuring sustainable land use, as such rights determine whether, and how, communities can use, control, and manage resources like land, forests, and fisheries.

Poorly Designed Agricultural Subsidies

When discussing soil, agriculture inevitably comes into focus. Intensive agriculture is responsible for 80% of global deforestation and 70% of freshwater use. At COP16, the issue of poorly designed agricultural subsidies, which currently incentivize harmful agricultural practices, will be addressed.
These subsidies are estimated to exceed $500 billion annually, reigniting the debate on resource allocation.
COP16 aims to reduce these incentives to promote sustainable investments, despite likely opposition from multinational corporations and investment funds involved in land grabbing.

Why So Much Attention on Desertification?

In Riyadh, during the early days of COP16, the World Drought Atlas was presented, a report containing global data on desertification and its intensification due to the climate crisis. If current trends continue, 90% of soils could be degraded by 2050.
Already, over 3.2 billion people worldwide are affected by soil degradation. Drought has profound impacts across various sectors: it reduces agricultural production, worsened by inefficient irrigation and water-intensive crops. It compromises the quantity and quality of water, leading to shortages, pollution, and groundwater crises. It affects hydropower, pushing reliance on fossil fuels with negative climate impacts. Finally, it damages ecosystems, causing biodiversity loss, disruptions in the carbon cycle, and a reduction in ecosystem services essential for human and environmental well-being.
Desertification is a complex phenomenon, exacerbated by various factors:

• Increased evapotranspiration: Rising global temperatures lead to higher water evaporation from soil and vegetation, reducing available moisture.
• Reduced precipitation: Climate change can alter precipitation patterns, causing prolonged periods of low rainfall in some regions.
• Increased water demand: Population growth, urbanization, and intensified agricultural and industrial activities increase pressure on water resources, exacerbating scarcity during droughts.
• Unsustainable water resource management: Excessive water withdrawal from rivers, lakes, and aquifers, inefficient irrigation methods, and inadequate water infrastructure can worsen drought effects.
• Soil degradation and deforestation: Loss of vegetative cover due to deforestation and soil degradation reduces the soil’s ability to retain water, increasing drought risk.
• Climatic phenomena like El Niño: Weather events such as El Niño can influence precipitation and temperature patterns, contributing to drought periods in some parts of the world.