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An interactive system to map land degradation and inform decision-making to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality via convergence of evidence across scales: a case study in Ecuador
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  • Ingrid Teich,
  • Nicole Harari,
  • Pablo Caza,
  • Juan Pablo Henao-Henao,
  • Juan Calles Lopez,
  • Eugenia Raviolo,
  • Ana María Díaz-González,
  • Hernán González,
  • Soledad Bastidas,
  • Cristian Morales-Opazo,
  • César Luis García
Ingrid Teich
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Corresponding Author:ingrid.teich@fao.org

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Nicole Harari
Universitat Bern Interdisziplinares Zentrum fur Nachhaltige Entwicklung und Umwelt
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Pablo Caza
Gobierno Nacional de la Republica del Ecuador Ministerio del Ambiente Agua y Transicion Ecologica
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Juan Pablo Henao-Henao
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Juan Calles Lopez
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Eugenia Raviolo
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Ana María Díaz-González
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Hernán González
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Soledad Bastidas
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Cristian Morales-Opazo
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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César Luis García
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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Abstract

One of the core challenges to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is to spatially identify, and strategically prioritise, the areas to implement actions to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation. To achieve this, a tool for a participatory and data-driven assessment considering both the biophysical, and socio-economic dimensions of land degradation across scales was developed for Ecuador. In this paper, we present the methodology and results obtained, including the spatially explicit interactive tool developed to integrate indicators that support the scaling-up of sustainable land management (SLM). The process involved specialists from various national and international institutions, as well as decision makers from the public sector and other relevant stakeholders. Cloud computing allowed the integration of five main sources of data: (1) the results of a participatory land degradation assessment based on an expert knowledge questionnaire following the Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) and World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) methodology; (2) the Hand-in-Hand Initiative Ecuador typology maps based on poverty maps and estimated agricultural potential and efficiency scores using household surveys on agricultural production; (3) National data sets on land cover and land use, soil properties, and hydro climatic indicators; (4) global satellite-derived LDN indicators, such as Land Productivity Dynamics; and (5) Documented SLM practices from WOCAT Global SLM Database. The tool is based on a Google Earth Engine application and allows decision makers to easily compare results and obtain statistics at different spatial scales and landscapes, including 647 Land Use Systems delimited by experts. It also includes a multi-criteria module to identify areas with specific characteristics to prioritise different types of interventions to achieve the country´s LDN targets. Convergence of local and global evidence allowed the identification of hotspots of degradation as well as areas of false positives/negatives - if only global or remote sensing indicators were considered. The participatory process contributed to strengthening multi-sector cooperation mechanisms and to guaranteeing ownership of the tool and the results. The system will support Ecuador’s efforts to monitor and report progress towards LDN to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The system´s code is shared as a repository at Earth Engine and can be adapted to and used by other countries and regions.
07 Sep 2022Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
07 Sep 2022Submission Checks Completed
07 Sep 2022Assigned to Editor
20 Sep 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
27 Nov 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Dec 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
10 Jan 20231st Revision Received
11 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
11 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
11 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 Feb 2023Editorial Decision: Accept