Agroforestry Practices: A Possible Way to Achieve Land Degradation Neutrality

Land degradation in various forms is a ubiquitous problem affecting economic, social, livelihood, and environmental security on the planet Earth. Globally, about 25% of land is estimated to be degraded in one or another form, resulting in the loss of 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil per year and affecting nearly 3.20 billion people. If land degradation continues unabated, nearly 95% of the land surface will be degraded by the year 2050. As per estimation, land degradation costs about $6.30 trillion a year (8.30% of global gross domestic product [GDP] in 2016) in lost ecosystem service values. In India, 29.3% of the total geographical area is degraded, causing a loss of about 2.54% of the country’s GDP and requiring it to be restored for sustainable farm production and rural livelihoods. The world community has targeted achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030. Agroforestry plays an important role in restoring lands degraded physically, chemically, and biologically, mainly by anthropogenic activities vis-à-vis natural events and processes. Trees in agroforestry, through sloughing off their roots, litterfall, and pruned material, act as physical barriers, prevent soil erosion, a major cause of soil degradation, improve salt-affected soils, enrich soil biodiversity, and, inter alia, provide various direct and indirect benefits to society. This chapter reviews the problem of land degradation and the solutions offered by various forms of agroforestry for specific types of land degradation, and it advocates the adoption of agroforestry practices to achieve LDN by 2030. The chapter also delves into the intricate relationship between agroforestry practices and the pursuit of LDN goals. Through an exploration of scientific foundations, this comprehensive examination aims to underscore agroforestry pivotal role in achieving LDN.