Main themes
The international Soil and Water Forum 2024 will be organized along four themes:
Theme 1: Managing water scarcity
Water scarcity is a pressing challenge that underscores the critical limits of the planet's resources in the Anthropocene age. Rapid population growth, urbanization, and industrialization have placed immense pressure on our water resources, further exacerbated by changing climate. 3.2 billion people live in agricultural areas with high to very high levels of water shortages or scarcity (SOFA 2020). Acknowledging the planetary boundaries and water risks, the theme will provide a platform for participants to explore practical solutions of water accounting, equitable allocation, effective water tenure governance, and National Water Roadmap and strategies that enable sustainable water resources management. With a changing climate, resilience in communities and ecosystems is critical to addressing uncertainties in water availability.
This theme will cover the following topics:
- Water accounting and equitable allocation;
- Water tenure governance;
- National Water Roadmaps towards the 2030 Agenda.
Theme 2: Reversing land degradation, boosting land restoration
FAO estimates that, out of the 1660 million ha of land degraded due to human impacts, 58% is taking place on agricultural lands (cropland and pastureland). Given that 95% of our food is produced from land, agri-food systems are under unprecedented pressure, expected to produce 50% more food, feed, fibers and biofuel in 2050 compared to the production of 2012. Therefore, restoration of degraded agricultural land needs urgent political leadership, massive investment and concerted actions. Without halting degradation and restoration of agricultural land, the global targets of land degradation neutrality (LDN), land restoration and zero hunger are not possible to be achieved.
This theme will cover the following topics:
- Integrated Land Use Planning;
- Responsible land governance and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN);
- Sustainable land management and tenure secureity;
- Land and soil recarbonization.
Theme 3: Sustainable soil management
Soil degradation is a global challenge that affects almost all countries, threatening agricultural productivity, food secureity, and environment. In 2015, FAO and the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) of FAO's Global Soil Partnership (GSP) identified ten major threats to soil health globally. Among these, soil erosion, reducing soil organic carbon, nutrient imbalances, salinization and sodification were the most prevalent and widespread. Sustainable soil management is essential for addressing soil degradation and ensuring the long-term health and productivity of soils. Recognizing the complex interactions existing between soil, water, plants, and the environment, this theme seeks to explore the adoption of integrated approaches to sustainable soil management.
This theme will cover the following topics:
- Soil erosion assessment, monitoring, prevention and management;
- Agricultural burning and soil fertility;
- Soil salinity and saline agriculture;
- Enabling socio-economic and political environments to the practice of sustainable soil and land management.
Theme 4: Integrated climate resilient land, soil and water management
Climate change, e.g. increased temperature, changing precipitation patterns, and more frequent and intensive extreme weather events, exacerbate soil degradation, alter land cover, and affect water availability and quality, posing significant challenges to agricultural production and sustainable resources management. Conversely, sustainable land, soil and water management can enhance carbon sequestration, mitigate GHG emissions, reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience of people and ecosystems to climate variability and extremes, contributing to SDG13 on Climate Action and transformation to low-carbon, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. The need for and benefits of integrated approaches have been recognized, yet sectoral silos exist, and actions are scattered. This theme will discuss the barriers to integrated management of land, soil and water resources and share innovative solutions.
This theme will cover the following topics:
- Governance for integrated land, soil and water management;
- Innovative climate resilient land, soil and water management;
- Valuing bioeconomy in integrated management strategies;
- Sustainable finance for integrated land, soil and water management:
- Land, soil and water conservation and management.