The first UNCCD SPI Science Day brought together a diverse and highly-engaged audience of over hundred people, including scientists, policy-makers, practitioners, students, journalists and representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) and development agencies.

Invited speakers emphasized the interconnections between land and climate, and the multiple benefits to nature and humans from Sustainable Land Management (SLM). 

Notably, a convergence of evidence has emerged from recent separate global scientific reports that urgent action is required to sustain the health of land. This will require coordinated efforts, engaging all parts of society, especially women and youth, in planning, implementation and monitoring of measures. 

The implementation of measures to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) was highlighted as a way to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, as well as a means to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, thus highlighting the co-benefits emerging from LDN for achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The audience called on the scientific community for more effective communication, in ways that are clear and accessible to decision-makers, experts and the public. 

The inclusive approach used by the UNCCD-SPI Science Day allowed the diverse audience to voice their experiences, their suggestions and their visions in an open atmosphere. 

Throughout the day, an Eritrean artist Habteweld Masgina synthesized the Science Day's ideas through paintings and poetry, providing new perspectives on the intrinsic connections between humans and nature.

A photo gallery reflects the Science Day's highly dynamic and interactive dialogues between SPI members and experts from various disciplines and science-policy institutions.

See more: 

• Science Day programme
  • Session 1: Overview of Science Day and introduction to LDN
  • Session 2: Introducing the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land
  • Session 3: Foundation for a healthy planet: The enabling environment for LDN
  • Session 4: Tools and practices to achieve multiple benefits through LDN
  • Session 5: The diagnosis: scientific assessment to inform policy
  • Session 6: Regenerating a liveable planet
• Science Day report
• COP14 SPI key messages
• Day of Science on UNCCD YouTube channel
• Photo gallery