The State of Land and Water Resources (SOLAW) is FAO's first flagship publication on the global status of land and water resources. It is an 'advocacy' report, to be published every 3 to 5 years.
The first issue of SOLAW, "Managing systems at risk," was launched on 28 November, 2001.
Some of the main issues it raises are:
- The world’s cultivated area has grown by 12 percent over the last 50 years. The global irrigated area has doubled over the same period, accounting for most of the net increase in cultivated land.
- Global achievements in production in some regions have been associated with degradation of land and water resources, and the deterioration of related ecosystem goods and services.
- The potential exists to expand production efficiently to address food security and poverty while limiting impacts on other ecosystem values.
- Widespread adoption of sustainable land and water management practices will require the global community to have the political will to put in place the financial and institutional support to encourage widespread adoption of responsible agricultural practices. The negative trend in national budgets and official development assistance allocated to land and water needs to be reversed.
