Land degradation neutrality in Asia: progress in preventing and reversing land degradation by 2030

Molla, Abiot , Ren, Yin , Zuo, Shudi , Hussain, Ijaz , Mekonnen, Yilkal Gebeyehu

2026-07-01 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS 2026   98(卷), null(期), (null页)

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Land degradation is a significant global environmental challenge that undermines ecosystem services and jeopardizes sustainable development. Robust assessment of degradation status is critical for guiding effective policy interventions. This study assesses the status of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in Asia, utilizing the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 15.3.1, which encompasses changes in land cover, land productivity, and soil organic carbon. The analysis encompasses 48 Asian countries, covering an area of approximately 31.22 million square kilometers. The results indicate that 25.21% of the land is degraded, with significant regional and country differences. Central Asia has the highest degradation rate at 40.61%, followed by Southern Asia at 25.19% and Eastern Asia at 25.13%. On a national scale, countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Lebanon, and Palestine are experiencing severe land degradation, with rates exceeding 60%. This poses considerable challenges to achieving LDN by 2030. In contrast, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates are making notable progress, as their degradation rates are below 9%. Large countries, including China (25.45%), India (25.05%), and Kazakhstan (44.34%), are facing substantial pressure from land degradation. These findings offer an essential foundation for policymakers, development agencies, researchers, and conservation practitioners to create targeted restoration strategies and monitor progress toward achieving LDN goals by 2030 across Asia.