The world’s land could be restored for only a tiny fraction of global GDP, a new study says

Up to 40% of the world’s land is degraded, with an additional 1 million km²—twice the size of Spain—lost each year due to deforestation, urbanization, and intensive agriculture. This worsening crisis disrupts food and water supplies, fuels conflicts over land, and accelerates biodiversity loss.

Restoring degraded land could cost between $311 billion and $2.1 trillion, just 0.04-0.27% of global GDP if spread over a decade. However, poorer nations bear a disproportionate burden, as land degradation is often most severe in these regions.

Land degradation contributes to 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, weakens natural flood defenses, and disrupts ecosystems. But restoration efforts—through agroforestry, soil rehabilitation, and reforestation—can reverse this damage. Already, 115 nations have pledged to restore nearly 1 billion hectares, an area the size of Canada.

Restoring land isn’t just an environmental necessity; it makes business sense. Over half of global GDP ($58 trillion) depends on nature, and every $1 invested in restoration yields $7 to $30 in returns. A shift to a nature-positive economy could unlock $10 trillion in opportunities and create 395 million jobs by 2030.

Projects like the World Economic Forum’s Nature Positive Transitions initiative help businesses adopt sustainable practices, while 1t.org, part of the trillion trees initiative, aims to conserve, restore, and grow one trillion trees by 2030.

How is your country contributing to land restoration?