News & stories

Riyadh, 14 September 2025 – On her first official mission as UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad met with HE Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and COP16 President, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh."My visit to Riyadh was an opportunity to reinforce our shared commitment and emphasize the critical leadership of the Saudi COP16 Presidency as we work toward COP17," said Dr. Fouad. "To address the profound impacts of land degradation on food insecurity and economic uncertainty, we must act decisively and collectively. Our partnership is key to mobilizing political will and resources to restore land and hope."Discussions focused on shared priorities, including accelerating efforts toward drought resilience, transforming food systems, and creating new opportunities for private sector engagement in land restoration.On drought resilience, the meeting followed up on the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership at COP16, emphasizing the need for a proactive, global approach to preparedness and response, and for strong policies that support vulnerable communities and ecosystems.On food systems, the two leaders highlighted the crucial link between healthy land and sustainable food production. Building on the landmark COP16 decision on productive agricultural lands, they noted that agriculture remains a major driver of land degradation, deforestation, freshwater extraction and biodiversity loss worldwide, and must be transformed to become part of the solution.On private sector engagement, discussions built on the Business for Land Initiative endorsed by leaders at COP16, concentrating on strategies to unlock financing and innovation, reduce investment risks, and develop a compelling business case for companies to become key partners in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality, supporting sustainable agricultural practices and restoring land.Hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December 2024, UNCCD COP16 was the largest and most inclusive in the Convention’s history, resulting in 39 decisions adopted by UNCCD’s 197 Parties."I am confident that through the Saudi COP16 Presidency and the upcoming Mongolian COP17 Presidency, we will be able to showcase that we can be united for land, united for people and united with hope," Ms. Fouad added.For more information, please contact: UNCCD Press Office press@unccd.int; About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner. 

By Yasmine Fouad, UNCCD Executive SecretaryThe global energy transition is often portrayed as a challenging, complex, costly and urgent necessity. But this perspective fails to capture the full picture. What if this monumental transformation offers one of the greatest opportunities of our time to restore our planet? This is an opportunity both to change how we power our world and to restore the land itself, addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and food insecurity at their source.  A bucket-wheel excavator, one of the world's largest land vehicles, looms against the sky at the Hambach open-pit mine. This machine symbolizes the large-scale extraction of lignite coal that has shaped the region for generations. I witnessed this firsthand in Eschweiler, Germany, this week. For generations, this region was defined by the massive machinery of the Hambach open pit mine, which spans 85 square kilometers (about the area of Manhattan) and plunges 400 meters (about half the height of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world) deep. With a delegation of parliamentarians from around the world for our Global Changemaker Academy, I visited this former mine site. Through a meticulous, multi-decade effort, the landscape is being transformed into what I can only describe as a "friendly land": an ecosystem reborn from an industrial scar that is teeming with new life. The vast pit is destined to become Germany's second-largest lake after 2029. UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad joined the global delegation of parliamentarians from the Global Changemaker Academy, who were welcomed by the deputy mayor of Eschweiler at City Hall (Stadt Eschweiler Rathaus). What is happening in Eschweiler is powerful and tangible, going beyond a "good story." It is a prime example of what can happen when investment, technology, law and community dialogue converge. But Eschweiler's story is a complex narrative of a just transition that acknowledges the decades of community displacement and environmental degradation that preceded it. The most important lesson from this visit is not found in the soil or the newly planted trees. It is found in the law. The remarkable restoration we have seen did not happen by virtue of corporate goodwill alone. It was the direct result of a robust, forward-thinking legislative framework: Germany's Federal Mining Act. The law shows the principle that those who profit from extracting resources are responsible for restoring the land afterward. It requires companies to submit detailed, science-based reclamation plans for approval before any earth is moved. This legal framework designs the end from the beginning. The successful restoration of the land was achieved because the law required it, setting ambitious standards and ensuring the land was returned to the people in a healthy, productive and ecologically diverse state. UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad This is the critical framework we must bring from Eschweiler to the rest of the world. For the parliamentarians who joined me, this was the primary takeaway. While the specific restoration techniques or financial scale of this "Rolls Royce" project may not be replicable everywhere, the principle of strong, enforceable policies is universal. As lawmakers, they are the architects of this change. For three decades, the international community has addressed our planet's greatest challenges through three related agreements stemming from the Rio Earth Summit. Too often, these agreements tended to be pursued in relative isolation. Eschweiler shows us, in contrast, that on-the-ground action creates the constructive collaboration we need. Here, land restoration is the unifying, practical action that allows us to address climate change, biodiversity loss and desertification all at once. The restored Inde River flows through a lush, green landscape that was once an open pit mine. Wind turbines in the background represent the successful integration of a revived ecosystem and a clean energy future. Healthy soil and thriving ecosystems act as powerful carbon sinks, absorbing vast amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Restored lands become our best defense against climate shocks. They act like natural sponges, absorbing floodwaters and keeping moisture during droughts. At the same time, restoration is the engine of biodiversity's return. By rebuilding healthy soil and restoring water cycles, we lay the foundation for life. Reintroducing native plants sets the stage for the return of pollinators, insects, birds and mammals, transforming a barren landscape into a complex, resilient web of life. My journey from Eschweiler starts locally but will go globally. This first field visit as Executive Secretary served as a clear statement of intent. I am here for the land. Seeing this restoration firsthand alongside these dedicated lawmakers reinforces my conviction. My message to them and to leaders everywhere is this: "The UNCCD stands ready to be your partner on the ground. We will come to your countries, walk your landscapes and work with you to craft the people-centric policies that will bring your land back to life." The Blausteinsee, a popular recreational lake formed from an old open pit mine, features a visible power plant in the distance. Its transformation from an industrial scar to a community hub for nature and leisure exemplifies the ultimate vision of restoration.  

As the planet continues to warm, harsher droughts, extreme heat and erratic rainfall are eroding the food security and livelihoods of millions – especially the smallholder farmers who produce one third of the world’s food. Over the past three decades, disasters have caused US$3.8 trillion in crop and livestock losses globally. But in regions like Africa, only three per cent of family farmers have agricultural insurance, leaving millions exposed to shocks. Meanwhile, land degradation and drought are pushing rural communities deeper into poverty, jeopardizing the ability to feed a growing world population.  One way to address the challenge is reducing insurance premiums for farmers who manage the land sustainably, as explained by a new report commissioned by UNCCD and funded by the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) This innovative model leverages mobile and satellite technologies, behavioral science and systems thinking to provide financial protection while promoting sustainable land use. The report, called ‘Securing Land and Livelihoods: Insurance for Drought Resilience,’ shows the practical and economic benefits of the model through case studies from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and the Horn of Africa. To put it in practice, authors recommend building public-private partnerships, establishing pilot projects and embedding these solutions into national development plans and climate risk strategies. This integrated model reflects UNCCD’s commitment to solutions that align land management, insurance innovation and resilience-building for the communities most affected by land degradation and drought. A pilot project is underway in Namibia, with progress to be shared at UNCCD CRIC23 this December, and the project findings to be presented at a dedicated insurance event during UNCCD COP16 in 2026. 

Civil society is on the frontline of the land challenge — and they are essential partners for the UNCCD. From farmers’ associations to women’s cooperatives and youth networks, civil society organizations (CSOs) bring local realities to the global stage. The CSOs amplify the lived reality that land degradation is not only an environmental issue but as a direct challenge to livelihoods, food security and the future of our communities. Today, nearly 1,200 are accredited to the UNCCD and their engagement supported and coordinated through the UNCCD CSO Panel. This structure ensures that voices from local communities are heard in international negotiations, connecting grassroots experience with global policymaking on the future of our land.At the heart of the Convention’s work is Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) — the global commitment to balance the amount of healthy and productive land with the land being degraded. The goal is simple but urgent: by 2030, reduce degradation, restore what has been lost and make sure there is no net loss of healthy, productive land.  To turn this ambition into action, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the Medium Size Project “Strengthening Civil Society Role in Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (CS4LDN).”  Backed by two million USD in funding, this three-year initiative is implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and executed by Both ENDS on behalf of the Drynet network, with IUCN also serving as co-executor. The project is carried out in close partnership with the UNCCD CSO Panel, the UNCCD Secretariat and other global stakeholders. Through CS4LDN, civil society organizations are better positioned to influence LDN policy and practice — linking community-driven initiatives with international decision-making. The project focuses on two main areas: Influencing LDN – raising the visibility and policy impact of CSOs in LDN efforts. This includes building skills in advocacy and communication, promoting local initiatives and supporting CSO participation in global forums such as UNCCD COP and CRIC events.Leveraging LDN – Improving CSO access to funding by strengthening fundraising skills and building connections with donors. Activities range from training and donor roundtables to a study on funding barriers, with special focus on challenges faced by CSOs in the Global South.  CS4LDN follows a collaborative, cross-learning approach. Webinars, mentorships and workshops strengthen CSO capacity, while knowledge is shared through an online platform, newsletters and storytelling. A strong focus is placed on amplifying voices from youth- and women-led initiatives. The project is guided by a Project Management Unit (Both ENDS and IUCN) and a Steering Committee that includes the Drynet Board, IUCN, the UNCCD CSO Panel and the UNCCD Secretariat. It will also support CSO consultations and participation in major gatherings, including UNCCD CRIC23 in Panama this December as well as Désertif’actions and UNCCD COP17 in 2026. Photo: © IISD/ENB Anastasia Rodopoulou

Mongolia has unveiled the official logo for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), taking place in Ulaanbaatar from 17 to 28 August 2026. The emblem blends deep cultural symbolism with a call to global action, reflecting UNCCD’s mission to unite nations in finding solutions to desertification, land degradation and drought. The unveiling of the logo marks the beginning of one-year countdown to UNCCD COP17. More than a visual identity, it is an invitation to join hands in planting seeds of unity, resilience and shared trust — so that lands once degraded may flourish again.  At the top of the logo, radiating sunrays recall the eternal expanse of the sky — a life-giving force in Mongolian cosmology — which echoes the Sustainable Development Goals and represents the solutions to environmental challenges faced by humanity. The rays flow into the silhouette of a traditional Mongolian ger (yurt), crowned with a toono — the circular opening through which the sky enters the home. This symbol of harmony between people and nature echoes the timeless wisdom of nomadic life and the belief that the earth is both homeland and heritage. Beneath, an open hand cradles the Earth with gentle strength, a gesture of stewardship and protection, while from the palm a green sprout emerges — a sign of resilience, renewal and the promise of a restored world. Together, these elements express COP17’s central message: that our collective efforts, diverse knowledge and shared responsibility can transform the challenges of land degradation into opportunities. With over 75 per cent of its land affected by degradation, Mongolia has made land restoration a national priority through initiatives such as the “Billions of Trees” movement, the “White Gold” rural development programme and the “Food Revolution” agri-soil campaign. Hosting UNCCD COP17 will provide a platform to share these experiences while catalyzing global cooperation to address the interlinked crises of land degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss.  UNCCD COP17 will bring together delegates from 197 Parties, academia, civil society and private sector to advance drought resilience and land restoration goals. The conference aligns with the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), an initiative championed by Mongolia to highlight sustainable rangeland management and the needs of over one billion people who depend directly on these ecosystems. 

La secretaría de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) saluda atentamente a las Partes en la Convención y el estado observador y tiene el honor de informar que el vigésimo tercer período de sesiones del Comité de Examen de la Aplicación de la Convención (CRIC23) de la CNULD se llevará a cabo en el Centro de Convenciones de Panamá, en la Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, del 1 al 5 de diciembre de 2025. Las consultas de los países Partes afectados de los anexos de implementación regional de la Convención para África, Asia, América Latina y el Caribe, el Mediterráneo Norte y Europa Central y Oriental, en preparación para el CRIC23, se convocarán el 30 de noviembre de 2025 en el Centro de Convenciones de Panamá. Se compartirá más información sobre las consultas regionales en una comunicación aparte. Teniendo debidamente en cuenta lo anterior, la secretaría de la CLD tiene el honor de invitar a su Gobierno a participar en el CRIC23. El programa provisional (ICCD/CRIC(23)/1) y la documentación previa al período de sesiones se publicarán en la web de la CLD en su debido momento. De conformidad con la decisión 13/COP16, en el CRIC23 las Partes examinarán la aplicación efectiva de la Convención a nivel nacional, subregional y regional. Para ello, se presentarán en el CRIC23 actualizaciones sobre la implementación de las metas voluntarias de neutralidad en la degradación de las tierras y las iniciativas de implementación conexas, así como el seguimiento garantizado de los marcos de políticas definidos por la Conferencia de las Partes en su decimosexto período de sesiones. También se examinará el estado de desarrollo y la promoción de actividades de desarrollo de capacidades específicas para impulsar la aplicación de la Convención. En el CRIC23 también se presentará un informe sobre el estado de la mejora de los procedimientos de transmisión de información, así como de la calidad y los formatos de los informes que deben presentarse a la Conferencia de las Partes, según lo dispuesto en la decisión 4/COP16. El Grupo de Trabajo Intergubernamental sobre el Futuro Marco Estratégico de la Convención presentará su informe provisional para consultarlo con las Partes, organizaciones intergubernamentales y grupos regionales en el CRIC23. Asimismo, de conformidad con la decisión 20/COP.16 OP8, el CRIC23 considerará las prioridades para la orientación científico-normativa con el fin de que las Partes puedan aportar iniciativas y retroalimentación sobre la labor de la Interfaz Ciencia-Normativa, prestando especial atención a la contribución al contenido de cada informe principal. Distribución: A las Partes y Estados Observadores a través de sus Misiones Diplomáticas acreditadas ante la República Federal de Alemania, Puntos Focales Nacionales y Misiones Permanentes acreditadas ante la ONUG. Mediante su decisión 25/COP.16, las Partes solicitaron que se convoque un Caucus de Género como parte del programa de trabajo oficial del CRIC23 y como vehículo para identificar impedimentos en la implementación del Plan de Acción de Género y para compartir buenas prácticas en la promoción de la igualdad de género y el empoderamiento de las mujeres y las niñas, y alentar la participación y el compromiso de las mujeres y las niñas de los pueblos indígenas, las comunidades locales, los jóvenes y las organizaciones de la sociedad civil. De conformidad con las solicitudes formuladas por las Partes, la sesión facilitará intercambios interactivos entre las Partes y sus asociados para el desarrollo sobre temas seleccionados por la Mesa del CRIC. Para ayudar a las delegaciones a prepararse para la conferencia, se ha puesto a disposición pública en el sitio web de la CNULD un documento titulado “Información para los participantes” (ICCD/CRIC(23)/INF.1). Como es habitual, no habrá papel durante la celebración del CRIC23. Por consiguiente, no se imprimirán ni distribuirán los documentos oficiales de la sesión ni su diario. Todos ellos estarán disponibles en el sitio web y en la app de la CLD. La Secretaría agradecería a su Gobierno que designara al/los representante(s) que asistirá(n) al CRIC23. La inscripción en línea estará disponible a partir del 15 de septiembre de 2025 en el siguiente enlace. Para más información sobre la inscripción en línea, consulte el documento “Información para los participantes” (ICCD/CRIC(21)/INF.1). La Secretaría recuerda que los participantes son los responsables de obtener sus propias visas, reservar hotel y contratar cualquier seguro médico o de otro tipo que necesiten. Quienes requieran visas deben solicitarlas en línea completando el formulario de solicitud en y adjuntando una copia escaneada de su foto facial y la página de datos personales de su pasaporte. A la mayor brevedad posible se publicará una guía rápida con instrucciones paso a paso sobre cómo presentar la solicitud en la página web del CRIC 23 de la CNULD. La Secretaría de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación aprovecha la oportunidad para reiterar a las Partes en la Convención y el estado observador su más alta consideración.