17 June 2015 is World Day to Combat Desertification!
F
d ffor
or tthought
hought
How is desertification affecting our food security?
Food security is when all people at all times
have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious
food to maintain a healthy and active life.
O
attainment of food security for all through
n 17 June 2015, we celebrate World Day to
Combat Desertification under the theme
sustainable food systems. The aim of this day is
Depending on where you live in South Africa,
to raise awareness about the link between hunger
you will know that there is little or no rain at a
and poverty and land-degradation. So, what does
that mean? Well, it’s quite easy if you think about it.
certain time of the year. In Gauteng, it is usually
Many
of our fruits and vegetables are grown in the
in the winter months, while in the Cape the
earth,
so imagine what happens when the earth
driest season is the summer. This is a yearly
becomes too dry. Without healthy soil, there will be
pattern we can mostly prepare for – especially
no way to grow proper food.
the farmers who grow our food –, but not
everyone is that lucky and many people
around the world are
going hungry as a result.
Wordy wisdom
arid,
nd degradation in
la
to
rs
fe
re
n
io
at
various
• Desertific
eas resulting from
ar
id
m
hu
bsu
d
an activities.
semi-arid an
riations and hum
va
ic
at
m
cli
ng
di
factors, inclu
duction over an
nsequence of a re
ipitation
• Drought is a co
e amount of prec
th
in
e
tim
of
d
rio
extended pe
or more in
ually over a season
that is received, us
ic, social, and
significant econom
in
g
ltin
come
su
re
,
th
ng
le
uses the soil to be
ca
t
gh
ou
Dr
s.
st
environmental co
affecting land
d thus adversely
ke
ac
cr
d
an
d
he
parc
n systems.
resource productio
to function as
ils with the ability
so
e
ar
ils
so
y
lth
ts, animals
• Hea
that sustains plan
m
te
ys
os
ec
g
in
liv
a vital
and in the future.
and humans, now
What can we do?
To mark World Day to Combat Desertification, the
Department of Environmental Affairs is calling everyone
to organise events aimed at raising awareness about
desertification, land-degradation and food security. World
Day to Combat Desertification is a unique occasion to
remind everybody that desertification can be effectively
tackled, that solutions are possible and that the tools we
need lie in working together. You can help by talking about
it and organising other related events with your friends,
classmates or community, no matter how big or small they are.
086 111 2468
www.environment.gov.za
Sustainable food systems
We all need to work together to end hunger and
malnutrition (not getting food that helps bodies grow
and stay healthy). This change is urgent, because even
though the world has for decades produced one and
a half times the amount of food every person on the
planet needs, nearly one billion people go hungry and
over one billion are malnourished. To ensure that better
food becomes available to everyone, individuals and
companies need to change their behaviour.
What needs to be done
to remain food secure:
• we need to recover, restore, conserve
and rehabilitate degraded land,
• support smarter farming methods,
• adapt to the changing climate (especially in
the dry parts of the world where there are
more and more food shortages), and
• allow access to technology and give land-rights
to small farmers who protect the environment and
help feed millions of households, especially among
the poorest communities.
Investing in
healthy soils
Healthy soils are central to food security and
thus investing in them can improve the
livelihoods of millions of poor and disadvantaged
farmers. These soils provide a variety of vital
ecosystem services like water regulation, flood
protection and habitat conservation, as well as
play an important role in the global carbon cycle.
There is no life without soil, which is why soil
is such an important part of ending
poverty and hunger.
Biodiversity and food security
South Africa is one of the world’s three mega-biodiverse
nations (the other two being Brazil and Indonesia),
meaning it has some of the most varied plant and
animal species. Biodiversity includes livestock, countless
plants that feed and heal people, insects that pollinate
fields, and micro-organisms that keep soil healthy.
Biodiversity is crucial for agriculture, food security and
rural livelihoods, especially
for those populations
living in harsh
environments.
This makes recognising,
safeguarding and using the
potential and diversity of
nature the key to food
security and sustainable
agriculture.
Call for your action
World Day to Combat Desertification is
an occasion for countries to honour National
Dryland Champions. These are individuals or
institutions that have made a worthy practical
contribution to sustainable land management
practices. Under the Dryland Champions
motto “I am part of the solution”, the
initiative focuses first and foremost on
people, their commitment and endeavors
to improve the livelihoods of populations
and the conditions of ecosystems affected
by desertification and drought.
How can you participate?
• Join us in observing the 2015 World
Day to Combat Desertification on
17 June 2015.
• Help spread the word by planning
events and telling others about the day.
• Organise events as an observance of the
United Nations Decade for Deserts
and the Fights against Desertification
(2010-2020), as well as African
Environment Day (2015).