Important Dates

Prof. Dr. Barend Erasmus (University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa)

Prof. Dr. James Gambiza (Rhodes University, South Africa)

Global change challenges for rural sustainability in a South African context

Land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change are interrelated global environmental problems. Global estimates indicate that 25% of all land is highly degraded with 36% slightly or moderately degraded. Increases in land degradation may lead to a vicious cycle of biodiversity loss and climate change. About 91% of South Africa is dryland. The country is therefore prone to land degradation and droughts. South Africa faces the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. Balancing socio-economic development issues and environmental sustainability is crucial. Sustainable development goal 15 focuses on promoting life on land. The goal aims at “protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combating desertifi cation, and halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss”. Target 15.3 requires countries to set up voluntary targets to achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030. The LDN response strategy revolves around avoiding degradation, reducing degradation and restoring degraded land. The South African targets for achieving LDN and thus securing rural livelihoods will be discussed.