Land Degradation Neutrality and Restoration: Does Gender Matter?

Jun 4, 2024 | Sharon S. Thawaney and Debosmita Sarkar
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Marking the 30th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Convention to Combat Desertification, this year’s World Environment Day is focusing on a related key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030): “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience.” Highlighting the urgent need to address land degradation, restore ecosystems, and build resilience against the impacts of drought and desertification, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations have put together a 10-point strategy, involving stakeholders at various levels, to restore a healthy planet. However, even when a disproportionate number of women from among the 3.2 billion people worldwide and 74 percent of people living in poverty derive their primary livelihoods from agricultural land or its ecosystem services, the strategy of the UN Decade remains silent on the gendered impacts of land degradation or their role in land restoration efforts. This article delves into the importance of integrating a gender-inclusive cost-benefit analysis (CBA) framework to address the unique impacts on and roles of women in these environmental challenges, highlighting the gaps in current strategies that often overlook the gendered dimensions of land restoration efforts.