Impact of Climate Change on Land Degradation
Overview
> Jump to impact by region
Land degradation is a human-induced or natural process which negatively affects the productivity of land within an ecosystem. The direct causes of land degradation are geographically specific. Climate change, including changes in short-term variation, as well as long-term gradual changes in temperature and precipitation, is expected to be an additional stress on rates of land degradation.
Climate change-induced land degradation is expected through:
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changes in the length of days and/or seasons;
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recurrence of droughts, floods, and other extreme climatic events;
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changes in temperature and precipitation which in turn reduces vegetation cover, water resource availability, and soil quality; and
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changes in land-use practices, such as conversion of lands, pollution, and depletion of soil nutrients. (Source: Eswaran et al, 2004).
Research suggests that climate change-induced land degradation will vary geographically. The underlying adaptive capacity of both the ecosystem and communities will determine the extent and direction of impacts. Regions that are already constrained by issues such as land quality, poverty, technology constraints and other socio-economic constraints are likely to be more adversely affected. Concern is particularly focused on regions where increased rates of land degradation due to climate change are likely to decrease livelihood opportunities and worsen rural poverty. In Least Developed Countries, for example, food security will be compromised, making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals unsustainable.
Adaptation-related projects on land degradation should apply incremental reasoning during the design and preparatory phase. The focus of projects should be on reducing the impacts of climate change on land degradation over and beyond measures that would normally be undertaken as a land degradation focal area activity. In line with the adaptation funding window that applies in this case (see below), maintaining and/or strengthening the resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate change by reducting the rates of land degradation (caused by climate change) is a priority. Projects should reflect dynamic, long-term response measures that can effectively contribute towards the reduction of climate change-induced land degradation.
Impact by region
The above figure, produced by IIASA, shows the distribution of expected changes in the growing period in 2080 from a specific climate scenario. Regions shaded in green have longer growing period compared to yellow and brown areas. Regions circled in red represent areas with a significant climate change-induced change in growing season length that is likely to affect land degradation rates. (Visit IIASA for additional information.)
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