Learning objectives: 

• Understand causes, consequences and effects of land degradation, including the impact on different ecosystem services;
• Be able to categorise land degradation phenomena, esp. according to the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT);
• Understand the important role that soils play as carbon sink;
• Be able to categorise sustainable land management measures according to WOCAT and understand the positive long-term effects of these measures;
• Understand socio-economic barriers for the adoption of SLM measures and know about different political instruments to incentivise SLM;
• Be aware of the international policy framework of action against land degradation, e.g. the land degradation neutrality framework and the UN decade of ecosystem restoration.

Estimated duration of the lecture: 

30 minutes

Estimated time for further studies:

1-6 hours, depending on the level of previous knowledge and interests