What Land Degradation Neutrality means for Seychelles and the world |20 March 2017

The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) recently held an inception workshop of theUNCCD Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Target Setting Programme (LDN-TSP).

The one-day workshop held at the Savoy Resort & Spa at Beau Vallon, was aimed at introducing its key stakeholders such as hotel and tourism operators, farmers association, environment conservation, non-governmental organisations and international and regional funding partners to the LDN-TSP.

It also aimed at establishing the LDN National Working Group and mobilise senior government and major international partners.

Seychelles participation and interest in the LDN-TSP with UNCCD is to set LDN targets while achieving Sustainable Goal 15  ̶  “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.

Seychelles recently accepted the UNCCD’s request to participate in the LDN-TSP. The country is now among the 82 other countries committed to setting LDN targets.

Target 15.3 on LDN of the SDG offers the unique opportunity to bring along land and multiple benefits of sustainable development to the forefront of the development agenda. The UNCCD now recognises the LDN as the implementing tool for the Convention hence why Seychelles expressed interest in taking part in the TSP.

The Global Mechanism has recently put together a programme to support countries in translating the LDN commitments into reality. This will be done by assessing the national baselines related to LDN and establishing national targets as well as associated measures to achieve LDN by 2030.

In order for Seychelles to fully support the implementation and its involvement in this programme a Consultant has been recruited to provide technical guidance in the setting up of the programme in Seychelles.

The expected outcome of the workshop is to establish the National Working Group; identify existing relevant plans, projects, programmes and linkages supporting Sustainable Land Management & LDN; identify capacity building needs related to LDN target setting; identify entry points to leverage LDN in national and local policies; and most importantly validate the LDN-TSP work plan for Seychelles.

As explained by Marie-May Jeremie-Muzungaile in her opening remark at the workshop, the occurrence of land degradation in Seychelles is almost non-existent, however the country is faced with threats such as loss of biodiversity, forest fires, climate change and erosion, to name a few which eventually all leads to land degradation.

But, she said, the Seychelles government has over the past two decades become very aware of the threats of land degradation. And in 1997 ratified the UNCCD and ever since the country has been active. In 2011, it successfully produced a national action programme sustainable land management which was to be implemented within and under the Seychelles Sustainable Development strategy.

“This action programme sets out long-term strategies at achieving land management within the country mainly through the precautionary approach such as policy review, capacity building, awareness raising and education on sustainable land management,” she said.

On September 25, 2015, world leaders at the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets. An evolution of the Millennium Development Goals, they set out what all countries should strive to achieve in order to restore a balance between humans and their environment.

Of particular relevance for the UNCCD is Goal 15, which urges countries to “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”.

More specifically, Target 15.3 - the target championed by UNCCD and partner countries - was also adopted. This reads, “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world”.

Target 15.3 has therefore become a strong vehicle to drive UNCCD implementation, while at the same time contributing to other SDGs, including those relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, food and water security, disaster risk reduction, and poverty reduction. The 2030 Agenda and its target 15.3 places the UNCCD firmly in the context of the hugely important climate action agenda. This target is our roadmap for the next 15 years.

“Land degradation neutrality is a simple but revolutionary idea that can connect the dots between most global goals and targets. It is a commitment to avoiding degradation, to moving towards sustainable land management and at the same time to massively scaling up the rehabilitation of degraded land and soil. It may come to redefine our relationship with the nature.

“It is the simplest response to climate change action, food, energy and water security, forced migration and resource-driven conflict. By safeguarding life on land, we deliver for all, life on Earth. By 2030, we envision a world where we stop the loss of this vital asset and move into positive territory. By reaching LDN, we establish the basis for communities – all citizens  ̶  everywhere, to not just survive but to thrive by building a future on a healthy and  productive foundation.

“At this stage, we are losing around 12 million hectares of land each year. We need to stop this critical loss and turn this trend around. Literally speaking, the health and productivity of the ground that we stand on will determine the future prosperity and security of  humankind,” said Monique Barbut, executive secretary, UNCCD, in a brochure ‘Land Degradation Neutrality: The Target Setting Programme’.

LDN: creating healthy landscape for better livelihood

LDN will deliver multiple benefits: How we manage the land is closely linked to food and water security; to climate change mitigation and adaptation; to stemming forced migration and negative urbanisation trends; to creating decent jobs; to promoting responsible consumption and countering resource conflict.

As a globally agreed target, LDN can be used to galvanise action to address land degradation in all terrestrial ecosystems across entire landscapes. Recognising that LDN is just a milestone on the road to the full health of the terrestrial ecosystem, it is nonetheless tough and ambitious. While the SDG agenda is global, practical solutions will be needed at the country and landscape levels.

Seychelles is faced with threats such as forest fires and erosion which can lead to land degradation

Compiled by M. Julie