The Americas account for 23% of the world's potentially cultivable lands(1), which have a better state of conservation in comparison with those of other regions(2). Nevertheless, the region continues to face important challenges in relation to soil degradation and requires action to strengthen soil conservation and soil health and its associated ecosystem services.

The Americas region has 42 million km  ,
of which 17.7 million km   (42%) are areas of forest
and native vegetation, 7.6million km   (18%) are
pastures and 3.4 million km   (8%) are agriculture. 

Estimates show about 218 Pg of soil carbon stocks for the first 30 centimeters of the top soil layer for the entire region, almost 32% of global soil carbon stocks, estimated at 680 Pg.
 
The maintenance of these systems either forests or productive land are essential to maintain ecosystem services, agriculture productivity and mitigate climate change.