UNCCD COP13 GEF Day: Innovation, Science and TechnologyCase study: LandPKS Mobile Apps for Optimizing LDN Investments

contact@landpotential.org

Objectives1. Review how an understating of land

potential can increase ROI on LDN2. Provide an introduction to the freely

available LandPKS mobile app– LandInfo module: soil inventory (now) and

identification (late 2017) for matching land use and restoration with its sustainable potential

– LandCover module: monitoring changes in land cover

SPI’s LDN Framework

Salud de Pastizales

Salud de ComunidadesUn Sistema para el Manejo de Pastizales en el Contexto del Paisaje y la Aptitude de Suelos para Actividades Pecuarias

Yes

No

5

(Yes)

Simple changes – land use/LDN planning based on SOILS + TOPOGRAPHY + CLIIMATE

Sustainable crop production possible?Avoid ReduceReverse

Alternative livelihoods and agricultural intensification example100m

+ high wind erosion risk

Dark soil with mix of sand, silt, clay:successful crop production even during drought years AND no fertilizer required 1st year

Light sandy soil:successful crop onlyduring wet years (1/5) and manure always required

Land potential can vary at scales scales finer than mapped (e.g. N. Namibia -photos), and less in others (e.g. parts of Inner Mongolia uniformly sandy soils)

Success! Failure

Land potential = high restoration potential

(soil + topography + climate)

Land potential =low restoration

potential

Depth Water infiltration0-15cm (sandy loam) 35 mm/hr>15cm (clay) 0.8 mm/hr

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http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1375/index2.tmpl http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/office/ssr7/tr/?cid=nrcs142p2_047949

Objectives1. Review how an understating of land potential

can increase ROI on LDN2. Provide an introduction to the freely

available LandPKS mobile app– LandInfo module: soil inventory (now) and

identification (late 2017) for matching land use and restoration with its sustainable potential

– LandCover module: monitoring changes in land cover

1 app w/2 modules (download iPhone and

Android – everywhere*)

Note for our Chinese friends: using LandPKScurrently requires a Google account. We hope to eliminate this requirement by December.

LandInfo• Today: Describe soil,

topography, get information on climate, soil water holding capacity

• Dec 2017: automatically identify soil, topography climate

• 2018: links to site-specific knowledge and information including WOCAT

------- Pilot countries only in 2017 --------

Nzdl.org

2018

LandInfo for TARGETING and UPSCALING SLM

------- Pilot countries only in 2017 --------Soil/climate-specific fertilizer + management (pilot countries)

Nzdl.org

2018

Automated calculation/reporting (no internet required) + cloud storage- Dominant species

(est)- Bare ground- Crop residue

cover- Tree cover- Grass cover- % large gaps- Height- Plant density- Etc…

LandCover for MONITORING LDN

Data portal• Click on map/download

to spreadsheet/use API• Future tools will allow

local/global, comparisons, competition, additional visualization.

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References• (sign up for updates)• Herrick et al. 2013. A Global Land-

Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS). JSWC.

• Herrick et al. 2016. The Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS): mobile apps and collaboration for optimizing climate change investments. Ecosystem Health and Sustainability.

Thank youHundreds of colleagues in the US, around the world

unep.org/resourcepanel