Introduction

Soil organic carbon plays a critical role in soil productivity as well as a wide array of ecosystem prepossesses, such as nutrient cycling, serving as a repository of resources for belowground biota, contributing to soil structure and soil hydrology.

This report aims to provide guidance to help countries identify suitable locally-relevant sustainable land management practices and approached to maintain or enhance soil organic carbon stocks, as well as guidance on the estimation and monitoring of soil organic carbon for land use planning and monitoring LDN achievement.

According to United Nations Environment Programme, degradation of land and marine ecosystems undermines the well-being of 3.2 billion people and costs about 10 percent of the annual global gross product in loss of species and ecosystem services, (UNEP, 2019). Land degradation is defined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)1 as “the reduction or loss of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rainfed cropland, irrigated cropland, grazing land, forest and woodlands resulting from a combination of pressures, including land use and management practices”. It is recognized in Sustainable Development Goal 15.3.