Overview of Science Day and introduction to LDN

Facilitator: Mariam Akhtar-Schuster, SPI
Welcome address and introduction to the Science Day: Pradeep Monga, UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary
Introducing Land Degradation Neutrality: Annette Cowie

The intention of this session:

The first session of the UNCCD-SPI Science Day introduced the objectives and planned deliverables, and outlined the structure of the full-day event designed to facilitate interactive dialogue on barriers to implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), and ways to fast track action at national level. 

The structure of this session:

After welcoming the participants and outlining the structure of the Science Day and the aims of each of the six sessions, SPI co-chair, Mariam Akhtar-Schuster invited the Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, Pradeep Monga, to give his welcome remarks. 
Dr Monga drew attention to the programmatic and political relevance of the objectives of the UNCCD-SPI First Science Day, by indicating that addressing the condition of ‘land’ integrates and accelerates actions to achieve LDN. Therefore, investment in land through the implementation of the LDN measures will substantially support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Annette Cowie (SPI member and IPCC lead author) introduced the scientific Conceptual Framework of LDN. This concept set the scene for discussions in the following sessions of the day on achieving no net loss of healthy and productive land by taking into consideration measures to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, safeguarding biodiversity and highlighting the role of land-based climate change adaption and mitigation measures, and strengthening resilience towards the effects of drought.

See more:

• About this session
• First SPI Science Day
• Session 2
• Session 3
• Session 4
• Session 5
• Session 6