Land Degradation in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA)

<p><span style=color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>As global population growth intensifies pressure on land land degradation has become a critical issue costing approximately USD 490 billion annually and resulting in trillions in lost ecosystem services. According to the IPCC (2019) 70% of the Earth's ice-free land is impacted by human activity with a quarter experiencing degradation. Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) already vulnerable face heightened threats affecting ecosystems livelihoods climate stability and biodiversity. Despite the urgency research and conservation efforts in ESAs remain limited.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(23 43 77 1)>This Special Issue entitled Land Degradation in Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA): Assessment and Conservation aims to address these gaps by focusing on two main objectives: (1) advancing the assessment and quantification of land degradation and (2) exploring innovative solutions and methodologies to combat degradation and promote sustainable land management.</span></p>