Sustainable land use
Contribute to land restoration, conservation, food system transitions, climate-resilient agriculture and agroforestry.
The role of land
The role of land
Supporting
Supporting
- Soil formation
- Photosynthesis
- Nutrient and water cycling
- Habitat and biodiversity
Provisioning
Provisioning
- Food, fiber fuel
- Freshwater
- Natural medicines
- Substrate
Cultural
Cultural
- Ethical and religious
- Research and education
- Recreation tourism
Regulating
Regulating
- Climate
- Water quality / quantity
- Natural hazards
Land and food systems play an important role in the climate system. As humans, we affect or manage 72 percent of the global ice-free land surface. Hence land management has a huge impact on our planet. Depending on how it's used and managed, land can be either a source or sink of carbon emissions. Changing our behaviour can not only limit the degradation we are causing, but can actually repair damage inflicted in the past. We can turn a problem into an active solution.
What to invest in now? We can support you to maximize your philanthropic impact in two areas:
What to invest in now? We can support you to maximize your philanthropic impact in two areas:
- Landscape conservation and protection
- Agriculture and agroforestry
Currently, 43 percent of the global population lives in regions affected by land degradation – typically these regions are densely populated with people that are negatively affected by issues such as water scarcity, crop failure or sea-level rise.1
Due to these ever worsening impacts of climate change, the average crop yield such as wheat, maize or rice, could be reduced up to 10 percent by 21002, putting an estimated 183 million additional people at risk of hunger. And more than 700 million people, so-called 'climate-migrants' are forced to move away from non-viable areas, could be displaced by 2050. Supporting the agricultural transition will help people and habitats adapt to our changing climate, while simultaneously mitigating climate change and helping to stop the problem.
A philanthropic investment in landscape restoration and conservation – key takeaways
A philanthropic investment in landscape restoration and conservation – key takeaways
Soil is the biggest terrestrial carbon sink, storing more carbon globally than the planet’s biomass and atmosphere combined.
Soil protection and restoration can provide 1/3 of the most cost-effective mitigation activities needed by 2030 to keep global warming under the 1.5˚C threshold.3
Understanding CO2 emissions can be challenging. And it doesn't help that the world usually talks about them in big units – gigatons. One gigaton = 1,000,000,000 tons = approximately 2x the mass of our global population = well over a 100 million African elephants = 3 million Boeing 747 airplanes. Just to put that into perspective.
The world is currently emitting more than 36 billion tons of CO2 each year. Terrestrial ecosystems are powerful carbon sinks: Forests, peatlands, and grasslands store large amounts of carbon in vegetation and soil.
Global land areas stored 11.2 gigatons of CO2 per year.4
That’s 29% of total CO2 emissions for the decade.5
Be strategic about your philanthropy
Be strategic about your philanthropy
We can help you maximize your impact in the area of landscape restoration and conservation by focusing on three strategic areas.
A philanthropic investment in agriculture and agroforestry – key takeaways
A philanthropic investment in agriculture and agroforestry – key takeaways
Agriculture encompasses farming activities incl. cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. Agroforestry refers to managing land incl. growing trees in association with food crops or pastures. Agroforestry and changes in current agricultural practices can contribute significantly to mitigating climate change.
Be strategic about your philanthropy
Be strategic about your philanthropy
We can help you maximize your impact in the areas of agriculture and agroforestry by focusing on three strategic areas.