SEO Riders:
– UNCCD calls for restoration of 1.5 billion ha by 2030, unlocking a US $1 trillion land‑restoration economy.
– Annual investment gap of US $1 billion per day; private funding still low at 6 %.
– Nigeria losing ~350,000 ha/year to desertification—calls for community‑led action and tech support.
On June 17, 2025, Desertification and Drought Day spotlighted the theme “Restore the Land, Unlock the Opportunities”, urging global leaders to expedite efforts to rejuvenate 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), such restoration could generate a $1 trillion land‑restoration economy—with returns of US $7–30 per dollar invested—while more than half of global GDP depends on healthy ecosystems. However, current efforts fall far short: only US $66 billion per year is invested, with just 6 % coming from private sources, leaving a daily funding shortfall of US $1 billion.
Nigeria stands as one of the hardest‑hit spots, with UNCCD estimating a loss of about 350,000 ha of arable land annually, impacting six northern states and costing roughly US $5 billion per year. National initiatives like the Great Green Wall, NAGGW, and agro‑climatic projects are underway, combining traditional techniques (e.g., zai pits), tree planting, and community engagement to restore land and livelihoods. Despite these steps, experts stress the need to scale up private investment, integrate innovative and indigenous practices, and turn ambitious pledges into on-the-ground action.
