Sand and dust storms and agriculture.

Agriculture is one of the drivers of roughly 25 percent of global dust emissions caused by human activities. Sand and dust storms also have numerous direct negative impacts on agriculture, resulting in the loss of crops, trees and livestock, or significant decreases in their production.

While agriculture is a driver of SDS, it can also be part of the solution, combating SDS risks and mitigating their impacts through the implementation of resilient and sustainable agricultural practices. Sand and dust storms should be addressed as part of the strategies for national multi-hazard disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management, linked to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.

Efforts are growing to support SDS affected countries through mitigating SDS sources and the impacts on agriculture. These efforts include promoting sustainable land and water management, integrated land use planning, forest and landscape restoration, agroforestry, shelter belts, afforestation and reforestation programmes, and the restoration of agricultural soils and lands including croplands and pasturelands.