Unlocking the Sustainable Potential of Land Resources: Evaluating Systems, Strategies and Tools - Summary for Policymakers

This policy summary explains how land evaluation systems can support sustainable land use planning and management in the context of increasing food demand, climate change and widespread land degradation. It outlines how understanding long-term land potential—determined mainly by soil, climate and topography—can guide decisions on agricultural production, restoration and conservation. The document describes how aligning land use with its natural potential can increase productivity, reduce environmental risks and improve biodiversity outcomes. It reviews limitations of existing evaluation approaches and proposes improved frameworks that incorporate degradation resistance, recovery capacity and spatial variability. The report also highlights practical tools and knowledge systems that enable land evaluation at farm, watershed, regional and national scales to inform policy and management decisions.