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The Land Degradation Index (LDI) quantifies the biophysical degradation of land in Brazil through an index constructed by integrating three complementary sub-indicators: (i) land cover, expressed as age of deforestation; (ii) land productivity, estimated by gross primary productivity (GPP); and (iii) soil organic carbon (SOC), based on the recommendation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The integration of these elements allows for the assessment of the intensity and extent of land degradation processes. This index was part of the climate, environmental, and socioeconomic diagnosis of the Plan to Combat Desertification and Mitigate the Effects of Drought (PAB-Brasil 2025).The LDI is based on causal logic: deforestation eliminates the vegetation cover that protects the soil, making it vulnerable to erosion. When there is no adequate management, there will be a decrease in land productivity. Over time, there is a significant loss of soil organic matter, compromising its structure, fertility, and ability to retain water and nutrients. This degradation cycle reduces the ecological functionality and productive capacity of the soil. The LDI was classified into a six-level gradient, from conserved to highly degraded (Level 5). Levels 1 and 2 correspond to areas that have suffered recent deforestation but still present good levels of productivity and soil organic matter. Level 3 represents locations with signs of more significant degradation than the previous levels, with a more pronounced reduction in primary soil productivity. Levels 4 and 5 are the most critical, characterized by areas without forest cover, with low levels of productivity and soil organic matter. The conserved category encompasses areas that have maintained their natural condition.