Land use and land-use change

Land-use change refers to changes in the use or management of land by humans, which can also lead to a change in land cover (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2012). Land-use change and natural resource management are critical elements in climate change adaptation in Latin America and the Caribbean (United Nations Environment Programme). The conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, such as forests and wetlands, can increase the resilience of communities to extreme climate events and contribute to adaptation (FAO). Likewise, the sustainable planning and management of land-use change also plays an important role in climate change mitigation (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2019). This includes strategies such as reducing deforestation and promoting sustainable agricultural practices and reforestation, which help capture and store atmospheric carbon (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, FAO).