Under the slogan ‘Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration’, the UN’s World Environment Day this year is shining a spotlight on three interconnected issues facing people worldwide: land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.
According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), between 2015 and 2019, due to the effects of climate change, our planet lost at least 100 million hectares of healthy and productive land (soil, water and biodiversity) each year – “adding up to twice the size of Greenland”.
With such far-reaching consequences – for human lives, ecosystems and economies, particularly for marginalised communities – urgent action is imperative. This includes taking proactive measures for building drought resilience; conserving, sustainably managing, and restoring land resources; and promoting a shift in perspective that prioritises ecological objectives and places people and planet front and centre.
Recognising this, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has significantly accelerated its response – building on its decades-long experience working in five key areas to assist communities in strengthening their resilience to desertification and drought.
1. Regenerative farming
A holistic approach to agriculture that prioritises nature-based solutions, regenerative farming aims to rehabilitate natural resources and foster their ecosystem services; simultaneously building farmer-resilience against climate, environmental, and economic shocks.
Certain practices – such as the use of 100% natural pesticides, organic fertilisers and local seeds when working with crops, as well as livestock and tree integration to enable wider crop rotations and diversification – are considered “non-negotiable”. They’re key to ensuring that farmers are successful in their gradual transition to regenerative farming – and are foundational to boosting soil health, soil fertility, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
In 2023, in partnership through its rural support programme in India (AKRSP), AKF scaled regenerative practices to 125,000 farmers, which led to the Indian government recognising AKRSP India as a Technical Support Agency for natural farming. Another highlight includes reports of farmers saving up to 95% on their input costs and significantly reducing expenses associated with health.
Watch our webinar on regenerative farming.
2. Integrated water management
Integrated water management (IWM) is a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources to maximise their social, economic and environmental use in an equitable manner – while protecting natural ecosystems.
Recognising the need for inclusive water governance that involves all stakeholders, from local communities to policymakers, is a key principle of AKF’s approach to IWM. Equally so is the aim to establish and ensure water management practices that are sustainable and adaptable to climate change and demographic shifts.
Effective IWM involves a combination of traditional and innovative practices, such as rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment and reuse, and the implementation of advanced irrigation technologies – like drip irrigation – to enhance water use efficacy.
Focusing primarily on South and Central Asia, as well as East Africa, AKF has established several successful IWM systems. In India, initiatives include rainwater harvesting and sustainable watershed practices to enhance agricultural productivity and water availability for rural communities. In Pakistan, AKF engages in irrigation infrastructure development and repairs to support local farmers. In Kenya and Tanzania, AKF supports water supply systems and sanitation projects, promoting sustainable water use and hygiene practices.
3. Forest restoration and conservation
AKF works with communities and local governments on forestry-related initiatives in three ways: agroforestry – the integration of trees within agriculture and livestock operations; afforestation – the establishment of a forest where it did not exist before; and reforestation – the process of replanting forests after deforestation.
Trees are an important component in both reducing degradation and restoring land, and the benefits of these approaches are numerous. For instance, increasing the variety of trees on farms – supplements farmer and community diets, boosts farmers’ incomes and builds their resilience against climate change while stimulating soil health and increased carbon sequestration.
And in working at the community level, with individuals, local authorities, and government forest services partaking in programmes on both public and community lands, a sense of collective responsibility towards land restoration is nurtured.
With a long history of establishing forests across its geographies, having planted 66 million trees since 1982, AKF continues to work with communities and local governments on forestry-related initiatives. In 2022, AKF committed to growing at least 50 million additional trees by 2030. And in 2023, AKF planted over 8.2 million trees: 40% of which were planted in Afghanistan, 21% in India, 16% in Pakistan, 7% in Tajikistan, and 6% in Tanzania. This included 307 different species of trees across Asia and Africa, with a significant proportion being indigenous and endemic species.
4. Clean energy for domestic and irrigation purposes
Clean energy, meaning energy that comes from renewable sources and does not emit greenhouse gases, is increasingly being recognised as an essential element to sustainable development. In harnessing renewable energy resources – solar, hydro and biogas – carbon emissions can be significantly reduced, energy costs lowered, deforestation and natural resource degradation reduced, and reliable power produced for both household and agricultural activities.
AKF’s clean energy solutions include community-managed micro-grids, solar irrigation, and small-scale household biogas systems. In 2023, as just one example, AKF assisted in the installation of solar panels on the roof of a local community centre in the village of Khirais in the district of Salamieh in Syria. Through this project, all 24 households in the village received access to clean energy. Critically, community members are now also able to access water through solar-powered electric pumps – increasing income-generating activities for farmers and fostering climate resilience.
To date, as a result of the clean energy assets AKF has installed, 27,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) are avoided each year.
5. Integrated fodder management
Integrated fodder management (IFM) is a comprehensive approach aimed at optimising the production, quality and utilisation of fodder – agricultural foodstuff for cattle and other livestock – to support sustainable farming and cultivate diverse fodder crops adapted to local climatic and soil conditions.
Through this approach, high-yield and nutrient-rich crops are integrated into farming systems, resulting in improved soil health and fertility, and a diversification of crops for fodder. This promotes sustainable land use, reduces feed costs, improves livestock productivity and enhances environmental regeneration.
Over the course of 2023, AKF focused on developing a new IFM system to help farmers in East Africa to mitigate the challenge of increased scarcity and inflated prices due to climate change. The system allows livestock farmers to manage their fodder system by visualising it graphically, enabling them to make more informed choices about cost reduction opportunities and to optimise their production of healthy and diverse fodder.
To celebrate World Environment Day 2024, AKF hosted a webinar exploring regenerative farming, and how it can restore land, support livelihoods and build climate resilience. In case you missed it, catch up here.
