Land degradation expanding by 1m sq km a year, study shows

Report calls for course correction to avoid land abuse compromising Earth's capacity to support human and environmental wellbeing'

Land degradation is expanding worldwide at the rate of 1m sq km every year, undermining efforts to stabilise the climate, protect nature and ensure sustainable food supplies, a study has highlighted.

The degraded area is already 15m sq km, an area greater than Antarctica, the scientific report says, and it calls for an urgent course correction to avoid land abuse irretrievably compromising Earth's capacity to support human and environmental wellbeing".