Arid lands (drylands) cover 41% of the world’ terrestrial surface and occur on all continents; over 2 billion people, largely in developing countries, live on arid lands and are particularly dependent on ecosystem services for their livelihoods. Drylands have expanded in the last 60 years and with continued climate change are expected to increase further. Land degradation and climate change, left unchecked, will likely accelerate: desertification; the loss of community resilience and ecosystem services; and further land conversion.
This group is a place to discuss these challenges, as well as the science, practice, and policy of ecological restoration in arid environments around the world. The group can help improve capacity to reduce biodiversity and ecosystem loss, alleviate poverty, strengthen social capital, and build more resilient social-ecological systems free of the threat of land degradation and desertification.
