High Level Session 2: Land management in time of crisis (English)

The Arab region faces multiple stress factors that challenge its socio-economic development and increase its vulnerability to conflict. Climate change and freshwater scarcity present urgent threats: by 2030, declining precipitation, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers may reduce renewable water resources by up to 20%. Desertification and land degradation continue to intensify, driven by inadequate management of rangelands and fragile dryland ecosystems. These trends affect food security and disrupt the livelihoods of agricultural and pastoral communities. Effective approaches to land and resource management are critical for mitigating these impacts and bolstering communities’ resilience.

Over the past years, the region has also been increasingly affected by violent conflicts, leaving around 50 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and forcing over 15 million people to flee their homes (UNHCR, 2019). While conflicts have root causes beyond land management, good land policies and practices can help stabilize societies by establishing sustainable and inclusive land-use patterns, strengthening peace, and stimulating economic development. Equitable sharing of land resources, protecting land rights, providing affordable and adequate housing, and setting up effective land administration systems are essential steps in preventing future crises and sustaining peace. Another pressing concern is the region’s high rate of urbanization. Nearly 60% of the population live in urban areas, and over a quarter of these—about 82 million people—reside in informal settlements or slums. Such conditions heighten vulnerability to various crises and underscore the need for better urban planning, affordable housing solutions, and the upgrading of informal settlements.

By addressing these challenges through improved land management, the Arab region can reduce fragility, promote resilience, and foster sustainable socio-economic growth.