Agroecology in Action: Cross-Country Spatial Insights on Land Degradation, Soil Productivity, and Carbon Sequestration

Land degradation poses a critical threat to global food security and ecosystem sustainability, with conventional agricultural practices exacerbating soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and carbon emissions. Agroecology offers a promising alternative by integrating ecological principles into farming systems, yet its effectiveness varies across regions due to diverse socio-ecological contexts. This study provides a comprehensive cross-country assessment of land degradation and restoration potential using spatial analysis of SDG Indicator 15.3.1 (combining land productivity, cover change, and soil organic carbon) across 10 regions in 8 countries (Peru, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, India, and Laos). The Trends.Earth platform was employed to analyze degradation trends (2001–2020) and model carbon sequestration potential under different restoration scenarios (natural regeneration, agroforestry, and tree plantations). Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the modeling parameters, and the study quantifies the associated uncertainty in sequestration estimates. Results reveal striking regional differences: while Madhya Pradesh (India) showed 77.8% land improvement, Attapeu (Laos) suffered 31.6% degradation, linked to deforestation and intensive monocropping. Carbon sequestration potential varied significantly by approach, with eucalyptus and conifer plantations achieving up to 820 tCO 2 /hm 2 in favorable climates, whereas agroforestry systems demonstrated more balanced ecological benefits despite lower carbon gains. Soil organic carbon declined sharply in Kef-Siliana, Tunisia (11.1%) and Houet, Burkina Faso (10.2%), underscoring unsustainable land management. The findings highlight the limitations of uniform restoration strategies and emphasize the need for context-specific interventions that align with local ecological and socio-economic conditions. Policy recommendations include prioritizing agroecological transitions in highly degraded areas, integrating high-resolution monitoring for targeted interventions, and balancing carbon sequestration goals with long-term ecosystem resilience. This study advances the global agroecology agenda by providing a scalable assessment framework to guide sustainable land management and climate-smart agriculture worldwide.