Land restoration for conflict prevention

At the Munich Security Conference (MSC2025) in February 2025, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) highlighted land restoration as a key strategy for conflict prevention and stability. At the session Conversation on Land Restoration and Security, hosted by UNCCD in partnership with Adelphi Research, participants explored the role of land restoration in fostering resilience, security and transboundary cooperation.  

“Land degradation is not merely an environmental crisis — it is a critical security challenge,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw. “Over three billion people depend on land for survival, yet up to 40 per cent of global land is already degraded, exacerbating food and water scarcity, economic instability and displacement. Governments, security organisations and financial institutions must recognise that restoring land is restoring peace. Without urgent action, competition over shrinking resources will continue to drive instability and displacement.” 

As fertile soils were becoming increasingly scarce and land rights were facing global challenges globally, these issues were threatening food security, biodiversity and climate stability, said Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). “Ultimately, they pose a serious risk to global peace and security,” Flasbarth added. “To effectively respond, the agenda on land, peace and security must be elevated on the global stage, with a strong emphasis on integrated cooperation at international, regional and national levels."

Land degradation – a global security threat 

As climate change accelerates desertification and depletes essential resources, competition over dwindling land intensifies, increasing the risks of conflict and forced migration. It is estimated that climate change could lead millions of people moving within their own borders by 2050. 

The Ground for Peace report published by UNCCD highlights that 

• land degradation exacerbates conflict, intensifying competition over food, water and resources,
• 60 per cent of ecosystem services in conflict-affected regions have already been degraded, making recovery even more challenging,
• only 10 per cent of global climate finance (2015-2024) has been allocated to land restoration, despite its role in reducing conflict risks,
• the economic cost of land degradation is estimated at $6.3 trillion annually, significantly impacting global stability,
• environmental peacebuilding initiatives, such as transboundary land restoration, create shared incentives for cooperation and long-term stability, and
• strengthened governance and land tenure rights are essential to ensuring that land restoration contributes to lasting peace and resilience.

The role of land restoration in global security 

Transboundary land restoration presents a critical opportunity for mitigating and resolving disputes over shared natural resources. By fostering cross-border collaboration, sustainable land management can serve as a confidence-building measure, equipping governments and marginalised communities with the tools needed for cooperative decision-making. 

One such initiative is the Peace Forest Initiative (PFI), launched by the UNCCD in partnership with the Korea Forest Service. The PFI promotes cross-border cooperation in fragile and conflict-affected regions by restoring degraded lands and forests, reducing tensions and fostering trust through shared environmental efforts. 

Successful large-scale restoration projects further demonstrate the potential of land rehabilitation to strengthen regional cooperation and economic resilience. The Great Green Wall, which stretches across the Sahel, has shown how combating desertification can also enhance stability and livelihoods. Similarly, the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) — one of the world's largest conservation zones — exemplifies how joint resource management can protect biodiversity while easing tensions over land and water access across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

However, the success of these initiatives depends on strong governance frameworks and sustained financial commitments to ensure their long-term viability and impact.  

(UNCCD/ile)

Read more on the UNCCD website