Central Asia land degradation affects 24 million people, UN report says

September 3, 2026 at 09:26 AM2 min

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More than 80 million hectares of land in Central Asia have degraded, affecting about 24 million people, according to a UN Convention to Combat Desertification report. Annual economic losses are estimated at $2–6 billion. The region is warming twice as fast as the global average, with glacier area down 30% over 50 years.

Key Facts

More than 80 million hectares of land in Central Asia have degraded, over a quarter of the region's territory.
About 24 million people live on degraded lands in Central Asia.
Annual economic losses from land degradation are estimated at $2–6 billion.
Central Asia is warming about twice as fast as the global average, and glacier area has shrunk by about 30% over the past 50 years.
Kyrgyzstan plans to restore 300,000 hectares of degraded pastures by 2030.

Scale of Degradation

More than 80 million hectares of land in Central Asia have degraded, exceeding a quarter of the region's territory. About 24 million people live on these degraded lands, according to the UN News Service citing the UNCCD report. Annual economic damage from land degradation is estimated at $2–6 billion. Losses stem from reduced crop yields, deteriorating pastures, and declining land productivity.

Climate and Restoration Efforts

Central Asia is warming about twice as fast as the global average, and glacier area has decreased by roughly 30% over the last 50 years. Kyrgyzstan plans to restore 300,000 hectares of degraded pastures by 2030, including through community-based pasture management. Uzbekistan has planted saxaul on 2 million hectares of the dried Aral Sea bed. Tajikistan is developing horticulture on mountain slopes to harvest crops, retain moisture, and reduce mudflow risks. Kazakhstan is advancing agricultural land restoration and carbon farming projects, while Turkmenistan applies sand fixation and protective green belts.

Economic Returns

UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmin Fouad highlighted the economic benefits of land restoration. Estimates suggest that over a 30-year horizon, every dollar invested in combating land degradation can yield about $5 in returns.