Cuba reaffirms its commitment to soil protection

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 17 (ACN) Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla reaffirmed today Cuba's commitment to soil protection, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture.

On the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, Cuban diplomat recalled on X that 40 % of the Earth's surface is degraded due to irrational and unsustainable levels of production and consumption.

On the same social network, Rodriguez Parrilla reiterated the Caribbean country's defense of forest protection and soil conservation in its effort to tackle the effects of the climate crisis and ensure compliance with the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

Since 1995, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought has been celebrated annually, a day that seeks to raise public awareness about desertification, soil degradation, and the effects of drought.

The date is commemorated in 2025 under the theme "Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities," to raise awareness about how land restoration can boost food and water security, contribute to climate action, and foster economic resilience.

According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1.66 billion hectares of land—equivalent to more than 10% of the world's land area—are degraded as a result of human activity, and more than 60% of this degradation is concentrated in agricultural land, including croplands and grasslands, directly impacting agri-food systems and food security.