Two billion people live in the drylands, which cover 41 percent of the world's land area. Far from being bare and lifeless, these drylands contain trees and forests essential to the lives of people and animals, supplying basic needs such as food, medicine, wood, energy, and fodder for livestock.

But every minute, we lose 23 hectares of land to desertification.

Restoring these lands will return life to the soil and to the communities who know them best and depend on them for their livelihoods. As new trees and plants grow, transforming drylands into greener landscapes, they will help combat climate change, desertification and contribute to humanity’s efforts to save the planet.

Help raise awareness on the importance of the world's dryland forests and the need for action towards their sustainable management and restoration by sharing the video above and hash tagging #2billioncare.

More information: http://www.fao.org/dryland-forestry/en/

* This video was produced as a pro bono project by M&C Saatchi Abel, South Africa and supported financially by the European Union.

Auwahi Dryland Forest Restoration Project on the slopes of Hale'akala on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Image © Arthur Medeiros / Wikimedia Commons.

Desertification Control Project, Ningxia China. Image © Planet Labs, satellite image / Wikimedia Commons.

Anti desertification sand fences south of the town of Erfoud, Morocco. Image ©Anderson Sadie / Wikimedia Commons.