The economics of land degradation in Africa: benefits of action outweigh the costs

This document presents an economic analysis of land degradation in Africa, emphasizing that the benefits of proactive intervention far outweigh the costs of inaction. It focuses on soil erosion–induced nutrient depletion on 105 million hectares of cereal croplands across 42 African countries, providing empirical data and valuation models to assess the impacts over a 15-year period (2016–2030). The report estimates that annual losses from inaction could reach 286 billion PPP USD, equivalent to 12.3% of the countries’ GDP, while the cost of action would amount to only 1.15% of GDP. Investments in sustainable land management (SLM) practices are shown to deliver a benefit-cost ratio of nearly 7:1. The study combines econometric modeling with national biophysical and economic data, identifies key biophysical and socioeconomic drivers, and offers targeted policy recommendations. The findings underline the urgent need to integrate land restoration with poverty alleviation.