Land Degradation in Lesotho

Land degradation is the deterioration of land resources (soil, water, vegetation, animals...) caused by processes such as soil erosion, loss of vegetation, and declining soil fertility. In mountain regions, these problems are often intensified by climate change, reducing ecosystem services and increasing the vulnerability of local communities. Lesotho is particularly affected by land degradation. Almost 9% of the country's territory consists of degraded land, mainly due to overgrazing, overstocking, invasive brush species, and increasingly frequent droughts and erratic rainfall. These factors contribute to annual economic losses of around 57 million USD (3.6% of GDP) and threaten the livelihoods of much of the rural population. They also make the country more susceptible to natural hazards such as landslides. To address this, Lesotho has committed to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030, with a target of restoring 600,000 hectares of degraded land. However, limited financial resources and institutional capacity continue to hinder large-scale restoration efforts. But what is the situation now? Which areas need most urgent attention?