Conserving agricultural land

Description

Conserving agricultural land involves implementing policies and practices to prevent the loss and degradation of fertile farmland due to urbanization, erosion, and unsustainable use. Essential actions include enforcing land-use zoning, promoting soil conservation techniques, supporting sustainable farming, and incentivizing the rehabilitation of degraded areas. These measures aim to secure long-term food production, maintain rural livelihoods, and protect vital ecosystems by ensuring that productive land remains available and resilient for future agricultural needs.

Implementation

The World Food Programme is one of the largest donors of resources for environmental projects in the developing world, spending an average of US$1 million a day on projects. An example is WFP's assistance in rebuilding the watershed on the Loess Plateau in China, along the principles that agriculture is limited to the valley floor or terraced lands, all slopes should have a tree or grass cover, reducing water run-off and soil erosion, and livestock must be properly managed to protect new forage and forested areas.