ISO/TR 14055-2:2022

Environmental management - Guidelines for establishing good practices for combatting land degradation and desertification - Part 2: Regional case studies

This document provides regional case studies of good practices in land management to prevent or minimize land degradation and desertification in support of ISO 14055-1:2017. The case studies are presented to facilitate the application of ISO 14055-1 across a wide of range of geographical and local conditions. NOTE The cases studies are presented as different ways of applying good practice and do not preclude alternative ways of applying good practices in accordance with ISO 14055-1.

Management environnemental — Lignes directrices pour l'établissement de bonnes pratiques pour combattre la dégradation et la désertification des terres — Partie 2: Études de cas régionales

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Mar-2022
• ICS: 13.020.01 - Environment and environmental protection in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 207 - Environmental management
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 207/SC 5/WG 13 - Land degradation and desertification
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 15-Mar-2022
• Completion Date: 15-Mar-2022

Overview

ISO/TR 14055-2:2022 - Environmental management: Guidelines for establishing good practices for combatting land degradation and desertification - Part 2: Regional case studies provides a collection of regional case studies illustrating practical, context‑specific approaches to prevent or minimize land degradation and desertification. Published as a Technical Report to support ISO 14055‑1:2017, the document presents diverse examples (community education, GIS/remote sensing for spatial planning, sand‑dune stabilization, water supply solutions in cold deserts, food‑security/value‑chain interventions, restoration after woody clearing, etc.) to facilitate application of good practices across a wide range of geographic and local conditions. The case studies are framed as illustrative approaches and do not preclude alternative good‑practice solutions consistent with ISO 14055‑1.

Key topics and technical content

The report focuses on practical elements that help translate high‑level guidance into implementable actions:

• Case study structure: context and location, physical and socio‑economic features, interested parties, types and drivers of land degradation, resilience/risk, objectives, interventions, results, lessons learned and conclusions.
• Land degradation and desertification themes: soil erosion, vegetation loss, dune mobility, water scarcity, and landscape resilience.
• Technical approaches showcased: community education and sustainable livelihoods, spatial planning supported by GIS and remote sensing (RS), sand‑dune stabilization techniques, water augmentation for irrigation and domestic use (including snow/ice management in cold deserts), value‑chain and food‑security interventions, and post‑clearance restoration.
• Monitoring and evaluation: case examples include results, benefits and lessons learned to inform adaptive management and replication.

Practical applications and users

ISO/TR 14055‑2 is directly useful for:

• Environmental managers and land‑use planners preparing sustainable land management strategies.
• Local and regional authorities implementing desertification prevention and drought‑resilience programs.
• NGOs, community organizations and extension services designing education and livelihood interventions.
• Consultants, restoration practitioners and engineers applying technical measures (dune fixation, water harvesting).
• Researchers and GIS/RS specialists conducting spatial risk assessments and targeting interventions.
• Donors and project managers seeking documented examples and monitoring approaches for scalable projects.

Related standards

• ISO 14055‑1:2017 - Provides the primary guidelines for establishing good practices; ISO/TR 14055‑2 supplies regional case studies to support its application.
• Complementary standards and frameworks on environmental management, land restoration and climate‑resilient agriculture may be consulted alongside this TR.

Keywords: ISO/TR 14055‑2:2022, land degradation, desertification, environmental management, good practices, case studies, sustainable land management, GIS, remote sensing, dune stabilization, water supply, food security.

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 14055-2
First edition
2022-03
Environmental management —
Guidelines for establishing good
practices for combatting land
degradation and desertification —
Part 2:
Regional case studies
Management environnemental — Lignes directrices pour
l'établissement de bonnes pratiques pour combattre la dégradation et
la désertification des terres —
Partie 2: Études de cas régionales
Reference number
© ISO 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword . vi
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 1
5 Presentation of case study examples .3
6 Case study A — Community education and sustainable livelihoods for land
degradation management in the sub-montane La Rioja province, Argentina .6
6.1 General . 6
6.2 Context . 7
6.2.1 Location . 7
6.2.2 Physical features . 7
6.2.3 Socio-economic features . 8
6.2.4 Interested parties . 9
6.3 Land degradation problems faced . . 9
6.3.1 Types of land degradation observed. 9
6.3.2 Drivers of land degradation . 11
6.3.3 Risk of future land degradation — Resilience . 11
6.4 Objectives .12
6.5 Interventions .12
6.6 Results . . 16
6.7 Lessons learnt and benefits . 16
6.8 Conclusion . 17
7 Case study B — Use of GIS and RS to support spatial planning for drought resistance
in continental marginal lands in India .17
7.1 General . 17
7.2 Context . 18
7.2.1 Location . 18
7.2.2 Physical features . 18
7.2.3 Socio-economic features . 19
7.2.4 Interested parties . 19
7.3 Land degradation problems faced . . 19
7.4 Objectives . 20
7.5 Interventions . 20
7.6 Results . . 22
7.7 Lessons learnt and benefits . 22
7.8 Conclusion . 23
8 Case study C — Sand dune stabilization in continental desert region of western
Rajasthan, India .23
8.1 General .23
8.2 Context . 23
8.2.1 Location . 23
8.2.2 Physical features . 24
8.2.3 Socio-economic features . 25
8.2.4 Interested parties . 25
8.3 Land degradation problems faced . . 26
8.4 Objectives . 26
8.5 Interventions . 26
8.6 Results . . 26
8.7 Lessons learnt and benefits . 27
iii
8.8 Conclusion .28
9 Case study D — Water supply for irrigation and household use in cold deserts,
northwest Himalayas, India .28
9.1 General .28
9.2 Context . 29
9.2.1 Location . 29
9.2.2 Physical features .29
9.2.3 Socio-economic features .30
9.2.4 Interested parties . 31
9.3 Land degradation problems faced . . 31
9.4 Objectives . 31
9.5 Interventions . 31
9.6 Results . . 32
9.6.1 Augmentation of water supply to water spring . 32
9.6.2 Creation of snow reservoir . 32
9.6.3 Creation of artificial snow glacier or ice stupa . 32
9.6.4 Snow fences . 33
9.6.5 Use of solar energy for pumping water from aquifers .33
9.7 Lessons learnt and benefits . 33
9.8 Conclusion . 33
10 Case study E — Food security and value chain analysis for critical coexistence
landscapes: The case of Pandamatenga Farms, Botswana .34
10.1 General .34
10.2 Context . 35
10.2.1 Location . 35
10.2.2 Physical features . 35
10.2.3 Socio-economic features . 36
10.2.4 Interested parties .36
10.3 Land degradation problems faced . .38
10.3.1 Types of land degradation observed.38
10.3.2 Drivers of land degradation . 39
10.3.3 Risk of future land degradation — Resilience .39
10.4 Objectives .40
10.5 Interventions .40
10.5.1 Approaches .40
10.5.2 Challenges and constraints . 41
10.5.3 Agricultural value chain finance analysis . 42
10.5.4 Infrastructure and technologies . 43
10.5.5 Market-based interventions .44
10.5.6 Climate smart agriculture .44
10.5.7 Resources for addressing the problem . 45
10.5.8 Project monitoring and review . 45
10.6 Results . .46
10.7 Lessons learnt and benefits . 47
10.8 Conclusion .50
11 Case study F — Restoration after woody clearing to improve livelihoods in the
D’Nyala Nature Reserve and Shongoane village, Limpopo Province, South Africa .51
11.1 General . 51
11.2 Context . 51
11.2.1 Location . 51
11.2.2 Physical features . 52
11.2.3 Socio-economic features . 53
11.2.4 Interested parties .54
11.3 Land degradation problems faced . .54
11.3.1 Types of land degradation observed.54
11.3.2 Drivers of land degradation .54
11.3.3 Risk of future land degradation — Resilience .54
iv
11.4 Objectives .54
11.5 Interventions .54
11.6 Results . . 55
11.7 Lessons learnt and benefits . 57
11.8 Conclusion . 57
12 Case study G — Regional cooperation to combat desertification and drought: The
ECONORMAS programme in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay .57
12.1 General . 57
12.2 Context .58
12.2.1 Location .58
12.2.2 Physical features . 59
12.2.3 Socio-economic features .60
12.2.4 Interested parties . 61
12.3 Land degradation problems faced . . 61
12.3.1 Evaluation approach . 61
12.3.2 Valles Calchaquíes, Argentina .63
12.3.3 Irauçuba, Brazil .63
12.3.4 Chaco, Paraguay .63
12.3.5 Tala, Uruguay .64
12.4 Objectives .64
12.5 Interventions .64
12.6 Results . .65
12.6.1 Successful experiences .65
12.6.2 Examples of good practices .66
12.7 Lessons learnt and benefits . 69
12.8 Conclusion . 69
Bibliography .70
v
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management,
Subcommittee SC 5, Life cycle assessment.
A list of all parts in the ISO 14055 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
vi
Introduction
Land degradation and desertification are fundamental and persistent problems that have long been
recognized. They are caused by climate variability (e.g. drought and floods), other natural factors and
unsustainable human activities, such as over-cultivation, overgrazing, deforestation, over-extraction
of water, impacts of construction activities and unsustainable irrigation practices. These activities can
lead to loss of vegetation and biodiversity, declining water supply and poor water quality, soil erosion
and the loss of soil fertility and structure. The consequences in the medium to long term are loss of
agricultural and economic productivity, loss of soil quality and function and loss of ecosystem services,
including biodiversity loss and adverse social impacts.
The IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land, Summary for Policymakers, noted that “human
use directly affects more than 70 % of the global, ice-free land surface” and that “about a quarter of the
[3] [4]
Earth’s ice-free land area is subject to human-induced degradation” . Le et al. estimated that at least
[1][2]
3,2 billion people were affected [by land degradation], while Barbier and Hochard estimated that
[5]
1,33 billion people were affected, of which 95 % were living in developing countries .
Land degradation is a driver of climate change through loss of carbon stocks in vegetation and soil,
albedo changes and reduced capacity to sequester carbon as soil fertility declines. Furthermore, land
degradation is exacerbated by climate change; for example, through reduction in ground cover caused
by increased incidence of drought, and enhanced erosion caused by increased frequency and intensity
of storms.
Recognizing the significance of land degradation leading to desertification in dryland areas, the United
[6]
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was developed to combat desertification
and mitigate the effects of drought in dryland regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The UNCCD
recognizes desertification as a social and economic issue as much as an environmental concern.
Therefore, it has a major focus on fighting poverty and promoting sustainable development in areas at
risk of desertification. Parties to the UNCCD agreed to implement national, regional and subregional
action programmes, and to seek to address causes of land degradation, such as unsustainable land
management. This document is intended to complement and support the activities of the UNCCD by
providing guidance to land managers on the establishment of good management practices that, when
implemented, will reduce the risk of land degradation and desertification and assist in rehabilitation
of lands affected by degradation. Land managers expected to benefit from the document include
land users, technical experts, private and public organizations, and policymakers involved in the
management of land resources for ecological, productivity, economic or social objectives.
The purpose of this document is to provide case studies, in support of ISO 14055-1, on the management
of land degradation from all hemispheres of the globe and across tropical, sub-tropical and temperate
climates, and from a variety of topographical areas, including deserts, wetlands and marginal
landscapes. Participating communities include those with poor economic profiles and limited resources,
and those evidencing some wealth and access to technology and the benefits of research.
This document aims to make ISO 14055-1 more relevant and understood, and to promote its use through
an illustration of regional case studies and examples that support the Sustainable Development Agenda
[7]
2030 of SDG 15 (life on land) and SDG 13 (climate action). This document engages a broad range of
stakeholders and countries to benefit from their initiatives in combatting environmental degradation
and desertification.
vii
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 14055-2:2022(E)
Environmental management — Guidelines for establishing
good practices for combatting land degradation and
desertification —
Part 2:
Regional case studies
1 Scope
This document provides regional case studies of good practices in land management to prevent or
minimize land degradation and desertification in support of ISO 14055-1:2017.
The case studies are presented to facilitate the application of ISO 14055-1 across a wide of range of
geographical and local conditions.
NOTE The cases studies are presented as different ways of applying good practice and do not preclude
alternative ways of applying good practices in accordance with ISO 14055-1.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14055-1:2017, Environmental management — Guidelines for establishing good practices for combatting
land degradation and desertification — Part 1: Good practices framework
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 14055-1:2017 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
4 Abbreviated terms
AVCF agricultural value chain finance
BAMB Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board
C-BP clearing and brush packing (in brush packing restoration method)
CBO community-based organization
CEDA Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency, Botswana
CLDS composite land development sites
CNFR Comisión Nacional de Fomento Rural (National Rural Development Commission), Uru-
guay
CO clearing only (in brush packing restoration method)
CONICET Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Scientific and
Technical Research Council), Argentina
CRILAR Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja
(Regional Center for Scientific Investigation and Technology Transfer of La Rioja),
Argentina
CRS clearing and re-seeding (in brush packing restoration method)
CRS-BP clearing, re-seeding and brush packing (in brush packing restoration method)
CSA climate smart agriculture
CSRS-BP clearing, soil disturbance, re-seeding and brush packing (in brush packing restoration
method)
DPAP Drought Prone Area Programme, India
DPSIR drivers/pressure/state/impact/response
EU European Union
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
GIS geographic information system
HDI human development index
ICAR Indian Council of Agricultural Research
IFD intervenciones físicas demostrativas (demonstrative physical interventions),
ECONORMAS programme
IICA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
IMSD Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development, India
IPM integrated pest management
ISPAAD Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development, Botswana
KAZA TFCA Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, Bostwana
LADA Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands, Argentina
LDN land degradation neutrality
LULC land use/land cover
NDB National Development Bank, Botswana
NDVI normalized difference vegetation index
NGO non-governmental organization
ONDTyD Observatorio Nacional de Degradación de Tierras y Desertificación (National
Observatory of Land Degradation and Desertification), Argentina
PBE Proyecto Básico y Ejecutivo (basic and executive project), ECONORMAS programme
RS remote sensing
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
SEZ special economic zone
SFR Sociedad De Fomento Rural (Rural Development Society), Uruguay
SLM sustainable land management
UC no clearing (control plot) (in brush packing restoration method)
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNSDF United Nations Sustainable Development Framework
USD United States dollar
WAWD Water Access and Wasteland Development, Pragya project, India
WMP Watershed Management Programme, India
5 Presentation of case study examples
This document provides examples of measures undertaken to reduce the impact of land degradation.
Wherever possible, the examples were selected to demonstrate challenges in different climatic zones –
temperate, sub-tropical, tropical – as well as different geographical regions (see Figure 1). The studies
have been compiled according to a template so that the logic of each study is properly described, and the
relevant good practice emphasized. The relationship between the template and the relevant guidance is
shown in Figure 2.
The case studies provide examples of the application of technology, the development of restoration and
conservation techniques, stakeholder engagement and innovation, and the alignment of socio-cultural
practices. Some projects have been undertaken with international co-operation and support and the
participants are described in the study.
The vernacular is used in many case studies and the description of some terms can be found from other
sources.
The actions, results, proposals and conclusions described or made within each case study are solely
with respect to the particular case study conditions and not intended as a general requirement,
recommendation or permission in relation to the use or application of ISO 14055-1:2017.

Key
Symbol Location Clause Case study Focus
1 Costa Riojana 6 A Community education and sustainable
livelihoods
2 Madhya Pradesh 7 B Use of GIS and RS
3 western Rajasthan 8 C Sand dune stabilization
4 Ladakh-Kinnaur 9 D Water supply for irrigation and
household use
5 Pandamatenga 10 E Food security and value chain analysis
6 D’Nyala Nature Reserve 11 F Restoration after woody clearing
7 Valles Calchaquíes 12 G Regional cooperation to combat
desertification and drought
8 Irauçuba
9 Chaco Paraguayo
10 Tala
NOTE Source: Base map: http:// equal -earth .com.
Figure 1 — Location of case study examples
Figure 2 — Case study structure and related ISO 14055-1:2017 clause
6 Case study A — Community education and sustainable livelihoods for land
degradation management in the sub-montane La Rioja province, Argentina
6.1 General
In 2011, Argentina formed the National Observatory of Land Degradation and Desertification (ONDTyD)
as a network of institutions and researchers. This was an outcome of the report on evaluation of
desertification in Argentina, under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Land Degradation
[9]
Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project . In 2013, the Regional Center for Scientific Investigation and
Technology Transfer of La Rioja (CRILAR), under the National Scientific and Technical Research Council
(CONICET), located in Anillaco, La Rioja province, became a member of the ONDTyD. The province of
La Rioja is located in the northwestern sub-montane region of Argentina and is a semi-arid area which
faces severe droughts and desertification.
The Costa Riojana, La Rioja, was selected as a pilot site for an ONDTyD project to collect information
about the state, trends and risks of soil degradation and desertification in the area. The purpose was
to develop recommendations for the prevention, control and mitigation of damages to the land, so as to
assist the decision-making process in relation to environmental management by both the private and
public sectors. The members of the ONDTyD project team are from the CRILAR-CONICET.
First, the people of the pilot site, including the representatives of the community, were invited to a
workshop that had been organized. After analysing the answers, it was concluded that one of the main
causes of desertification during the previous years was the indiscriminate cutting down of mesquite
trees (Prosopis sp.).
Next, an alternative was proposed: to incorporate the mesquite fruit into the human diet. This would
not only promote a healthy diet, but would also promote a sustainable process that would use each and
every available resource without damaging or negatively impacting the environment.
One challenge was weather conditions that restrict the use of large portions of the land for agricultural
activity. This also resulted in a growing desire to generate work opportunities and productive projects
to improve the quality of life for the residents of the area. It was concluded that the most viable solution
was the use and care of the mesquite tree. After years of evolution in the area, the native mesquite tree,
or “algarrobo” in Spanish, is able to survive the lack of water and climatic variations. The trees survive
plagues, their production costs are low and they do not involve much care.
There are different mesquite species, e.g. white mesquite (Prosopis chilensis) and black or sweet
mesquite (Prosopis flexuosa), which are frequent in the Costa Riojana and have multiple applications.
Unfortunately, the main demand is for the wood, which is used for firewood due to its high heat capacity,
causing deforestation, soil erosion and loss of the vegetation cover.
There are multiple advantages in focusing on the mesquite fruit that would improve the quality of the
life of the residents of the area. First, they are excellent sources of protein and good carbohydrates.
Second, they can either be consumed fresh or processed. Third, they would help to control nutrition
problems in rural areas. Finally, their industrialization would generate new job opportunities.
The mesquite fruit is a pod with pulp (smaller in the white mesquite tree and larger in the black one)
that contains many seeds that can be used to feed animals. Unfortunately, only a few do so. The pulp
corresponds to the mesocarp, it is sugary, very sweet, sticky, visibly developed, with an approximate
thickness of 1,5 mm to 2,0 mm. The natives used it in pre-Hispanic times. This was verified in
archaeological remains.
The use of the mesquite fruit is the solution for many problems of the pilot site Costa Riojana. It would
improve a healthy diet, would help nutrition and would generate jobs opportunities, while avoiding soil
degradation and desertification.
6.2 Context
6.2.1 Location
The ONDTyD pilot site of Costa Riojana, is located in La Rioja province, northwestern Argentina (see
Figure 3). The area under study is bounded by a polygon with the following coordinates: northeast
corner at 28° 45′ 16,90′′ S 66° 48′ 28,17′′ W; northwest corner at 28° 42′ 10,73′′ S 66° 57′ 10,51′′ W;
southwest corner at 28° 57′ 56,41′′ S 67° 3′ 31,91′′ W; and southeast corner at 29° 0′ 44,40′′ S 66° 56′
46,81′′ W.
Key
1 Argentina
2 Costa Riojana (La Rioja Province) in Argentina
3 Castro Barros Department in the La Rioja Province
4 La Rioja city
5 study area and sites along Highway 75 in Castros Barros Department
NOTE Source: http:// equal -earth .com; https:// commons .wikimedia .org/ wiki/ File: Argentina _ - _mapa _de
_las _provincias .svg.
Figure 3 — Location of the ONDTyD pilot site at Costa Riojana
6.2.2 Physical features
6.2.2.1 Climate
The climate is semi-arid, with rainfall that does not exceed 180 mm per year. The minimum winter
absolute temperature can reach –12 °C and the maximum absolute summer temperature is 38 °C. The
average annual tem
...