Editorial of the Special Issue: Anthropogenic Impacts on Land Degradation in a Changing World

Land degradation is defined as the persistent reduction in the capacity of land to support humans and other life on Earth. Intensified land use transformation from natural to sealed surfaces and intensive management practices accelerates the pace of land degradation. Several land‐use changes constitute potential drivers of degradation; additional pressures, including intensive tillage, pesticide applications, unsustainable irrigation, and excessive fertilizer use, further compromise soil resilience and undermine conservation efforts. The agricultural sector and the natural resources systems face heightened threats such as loss from erosion, decreasing soil organic carbon stocks, and increasing soil salinization due to poor irrigation water use. In addition to on‐site adverse effects on soil, water, and air resources, these processes exert off‐site negative impacts on socioeconomically vulnerable communities. Over recent decades, climate change, driven by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, has intensified pressures on terrestrial ecosystems through rising temperatures and increased frequency of weather extremes, thereby accelerating land degradation processes. Primary research and systematic evidence synthesis are needed to better address land degradation in response to the combinations of climate change drivers and ongoing human activities. In this editorial, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the anthropogenic impacts on land degradation highlighting the need for integrated approaches that address the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of this critical issue. This editorial draws on a range of studies and examples from around the world, outlining maily on contributions to this special issue “Anthropogenic Impacts on Land Degradation in a Changing World” and other LDD papers, to demonstrate the complexity and urgency of the land degradation issue. We will also emphasize the importance of addressing land degradation in the context of the SDGs, particularly SDG 15.3.1, and the need for a coordinated and integrated approach to addressing this issue.