ISO 14055-1:2017

Overview

ISO 14055-1:2017 - Environmental management - Guidelines for establishing good practices for combatting land degradation and desertification - Part 1: Good practices framework provides a structured framework for identifying, planning, implementing and reporting good practices in land management. The standard targets prevention, minimization and recovery from land degradation and desertification (excluding coastal wetlands). It is intended for organisations that manage land resources and need to communicate implementation of sustainable land-management practices.

Key topics and requirements

• Framework for good practices: Guidance to identify regionally relevant practices based on assessment of drivers of degradation and risks from current and past land uses.
• Assessment of drivers and factors: Identification of natural and anthropogenic drivers (climate variability, overgrazing, deforestation, irrigation practices, construction impacts, etc.) and forms of degradation (soil erosion; deterioration of soil chemical, physical, biological and water properties; loss of biodiversity and ecosystem structure).
• Principles: Emphasis on sustainable development, transparency, social responsibility, partnership, scientific approach, good governance, alignment with national/regional/international initiatives, and respect for human rights.
• Planning and implementation: Steps for developing an action plan for good practices, implementing measures, and iterating through review and refinement.
• Monitoring and reporting: Guidance on setting up monitoring to evaluate effectiveness and on communicating progress and outcomes.
• Legal and context considerations: Identification of legal requirements and land-use restrictions relevant to applying good practices.

Practical applications and users

ISO 14055-1 is practical for:

• Public-sector land managers (national/regional authorities, conservation agencies) designing programmes to reduce land degradation and meet policy goals.
• Private-sector organizations (farmers, forest managers, mining and construction firms) seeking to implement or demonstrate sustainable land-management practices.
• Technical experts and consultants developing action plans, monitoring protocols and reporting systems.
• Policy makers and NGOs aligning local interventions with international initiatives (e.g., UNCCD) and sustainable development objectives.

Benefits include improved land productivity and ecosystem services, clearer monitoring and reporting of interventions, better alignment with sustainability strategies, and enhanced stakeholder communication.

Related standards

• Complements environmental management system standards such as ISO 14001 and supports alignment with international frameworks like the UNCCD and national land‑management policies.