Stories

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is proud to celebrate a historic moment as its Executive Secretary, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Sustainability Medal by the Nobel Sustainability Trust, one of the world’s most distinguished recognitions for leadership in sustainability.This honor reflects more than two decades of Dr. Fouad’s contributions to environmental governance, climate resilience, and community-centered development across Africa, the Arab region, and the world. It also underscores the growing international appreciation for the work of the UNCCD, as land restoration, drought resilience, and sustainable livelihoods become increasingly central to global environmental and development agendas.From the beginning of her career, Dr. Fouad has been driven by a simple but powerful belief: sustainability must begin with people. Her journey has taken her from scientific research in Egypt’s most vulnerable communities, to leading global negotiations, to shaping national environmental policy as Egypt’s Minister of Environment. Throughout this path, she has consistently emphasized that land is not only an ecological asset, but the foundation of human dignity, stability, and opportunity.Her leadership has always been shaped by her human story as much as her professional achievements. She often recalls a moment at the 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference when one of her sons walked into the negotiation hall, approached the podium, and placed his hands on the gavel as delegates applauded. It was, she says, a reminder that while leaders negotiate for agreements, children negotiate for their future. This intergenerational sense of responsibility continues to define her approach to sustainability and diplomacy.Today, the world faces unprecedented pressures on land and water. A quarter of the planet’s land is degraded, droughts are intensifying, and millions of people are losing the resources they depend on. Under Dr. Fouad’s leadership, UNCCD has strengthened its efforts to reverse these trends by elevating land restoration as a pathway to resilience, by advancing more inclusive approaches to drought preparedness, and by ensuring that the voices of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and rural communities shape global action.Her tenure has also ushered in renewed momentum toward key global milestones. The Tafa’ul Process, inspired by the spirit of constructive optimism, is guiding a fresh dialogue on drought resilience. The upcoming COP17 in Mongolia is expected to deepen commitments to land stewardship, particularly as the world observes the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026.As she accepted the award, Dr. Fouad dedicated it to the women who rebuild their communities in silence, to the young people who refuse to inherit despair, to the workers who transform scarcity into creativity, and to the families who choose hope every day. Her words capture the heart of the UNCCD’s mission: that sustainability is not purely technical work, but work grounded in humanity, in livelihoods, in cultural heritage, and in the right of every person to thrive on healthy, productive land.Her recognition arrives at a pivotal moment for global environmental action. As the world seeks solutions that are equitable, resilient, and just, Dr. Fouad’s leadership offers a model of diplomacy that is principled, compassionate, and grounded in real-world experience. Her story is a reminder that environmental stewardship is not solely about restoring ecosystems, but about restoring hope and opportunity for communities everywhere.UNCCD extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Yasmine Fouad for this extraordinary achievement. The Convention looks forward to continuing its work under her guidance as it supports countries and communities in building a more resilient, humane, and sustainable future.

Jimmy Mariscal grew up in the hills of the Panama Canal Basin, where coffee bushes were simply part of daily life. His grandparents tended their caracolillo plants for home use, drying the cherries in the sun and brewing just enough for the family. Coffee was tradition, not livelihood ---a practice handed down quietly through generations.  Today, Jimmy is one of thousands of small producers who have benefited from a long-term partnership between Basin communities and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Over two decades, this collaboration has helped farmers shift from traditional plots to climate-resilient agroforestry systems that protect biodiversity, stabilize soil, and conserve water resources.  The Basin today is the result of decades of community-led stewardship and ACP support --a more resilient and sustainably managed landscape. This long-term partnership led Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), to the Panama Canal’s Miraflores Visitors Center on 3 December, during a field visit organized by ACP and the Ministry of Environment of Panama. There, she met Jimmy and the members of Cuencafé, a collective of small producers who grow and process high-quality, climate-resilient coffee. The visit provided a close look at how community-led stewardship supports rural livelihoods while protecting the freshwater system that sustains the Canal. Producers described how the transformation began. ACP understood early on that protecting the Canal’s water depended on the health of the surrounding land —and on the people who care for it. Without authority to enforce conservation, the institution built a model centered on support and incentives. Drawing inspiration from Costa Rica’s experience in rewarding farmers who protect forests, ACP adapted the idea to the Basin, offering producers practical support — from seedlings and technical advice to land titles and community councils that shape decisions. This steady, trust-based partnership strengthened over time. As Raúl Martínez, ACP’s Manager for Socio-Environmental Sustainability, explained: “When restoration helps families improve their livelihoods, it becomes a responsibility everyone shares — and the land stays protected.” Thanks to this incentive-based model - and especially to the introduction of coffee as a viable, high-value crop - farmers gained a reason to keep trees standing and invest in agroforestry systems that conserve soil and water. These choices ultimately made the Panama Canal Basin one of the least-deforested landscapes in the country today. Jimmy’s farm reflects that shift. Supported by community development activities and technical assistance, he introduced improved coffee varieties, planted shade trees, cared for his soil and refined drying and processing techniques. What once served only family needs has become a climate-smart system that supports both income generation and ecosystem health. As more families joined the effort, they formed Cuencafé, whose coffee now reaches Panama City markets. Their agroforestry systems help regulate water and buffer the Basin against intensifying drought — a contribution that matters in a country where 32 per cent of the land — 2.37 million hectares — is already degraded. During the visit, the Executive Secretary listened as producers described how shifting rainfall and rising temperatures have altered their work. She asked in detail about the challenges they now face - how rain has moved, how water scarcity affects planting, and how soils are changing. Farmers explained that years of land restoration -expanding forest cover, diversifying crops and protecting soils - have allowed them to retain water and maintain production, even as drought becomes more common. “What I see here is restoration that works because it begins with people,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad. “When communities are trusted and supported as stewards of their land, they protect the soils that anchor the hillsides, the waters that feed the Canal, and the dignity of the families who rely on both.  The impact extends far beyond individual farms — it strengthens the entire Basin and the generations that will inherit it.” Today, that transformation is visible across the basin. A practice once kept alive for household consumption now helps conserve water, sustain rural economies, and protect one of the most strategic landscapes in the country. What began as small plots of shade-grown coffee has grown into a model of community-driven climate resilience. As Panama hosts UNCCD CRIC23 — the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention, a moment when countries come together to reflect on how they care for their land — the Basin shows how restoration grounded in a long-term partnership, trust,  and community leadership endures, restoring far more than land alone. 

 Bonn/Panama, 3 décembre 2025 – Partout dans le monde, les femmes s’adaptent déjà à un paysage en pleine transformation. Elles réorganisent les cycles de plantation, parcourent de plus longues distances pour l’eau, protègent les cultures contre la sécheresse, prennent soin des personnes âgées et des enfants lors de phénomènes climatiques extrêmes, et maintiennent des systèmes alimentaires reposant sur des sols de plus en plus fragiles. Leur travail quotidien reflète une réalité mondiale : 40 % des terres de la planète sont désormais dégradées et les sécheresses sont 30 % plus fréquentes qu’il y a vingt ans. Ces expériences ont alimenté les discussions du Comité chargé de l’examen de la mise en œuvre de la Convention (CRIC), la réunion annuelle où les pays évaluent les progrès accomplis dans le cadre de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (CNULCD). Dans ce processus, le Caucus Genre — créé lors de la quinzième session de la Conférence des Parties (COP15) à Abidjan et inscrit à l’agenda officiel pour la première fois cette année — s’est imposé comme l’un des espaces les plus influents pour façonner des politiques foncières sensibles au genre. Au CRIC23 à Panama, le Caucus a attiré l’attention sur deux enjeux urgents : le leadership et les visions du monde des femmes autochtones dans la gestion durable des terres, ainsi que les impacts genrés des tempêtes de sable et de poussière (SDS), un risque environnemental aggravé par la dégradation des sols, l’assèchement des lacs et les changements climatiques. Terre, savoirs et continuité Les intervenants venus du Panama, de l’Arctique, d’Afrique, d’Amérique latine et de Mongolie ont souligné que le lien des femmes à la terre dépasse largement les responsabilités quotidiennes. Il façonne la continuité culturelle, la sécurité alimentaire et la stabilité des communautés. Pourtant, malgré cela, les connaissances des femmes guident rarement les stratégies nationales de conservation des sols ou de résilience à la sécheresse. La Cheffe nationale Wounaan du Panama, Aulina Ismare Opua, a décrit les conséquences directes du changement environnemental sur la vie communautaire. « Les femmes de nos communautés sont confrontées chaque jour aux effets de l’évolution des sols, des forêts et de l’eau. Nous gérons ces impacts, mais nous ne sommes pas suffisamment incluses lorsque les politiques sont élaborées. Ce manque nuit à tout le monde », a-t-elle déclaré. Elle a également souligné que l’accès limité à la terre, à l’éducation et au financement compromet la capacité des femmes autochtones à contribuer pleinement aux stratégies nationales. « Lorsque les femmes guérissent la terre, la terre guérit le monde », a-t-elle indiqué, appelant à une inclusion accrue dans les agendas nationaux et internationaux. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Coordinatrice de l’Association des femmes peules autochtones du Tchad (AFPAT), a souligné que la compréhension qu’ont les femmes autochtones des changements environnementaux s’enracine dans des générations d’observation et de pratiques. « Chaque carte de nos terres porte la mémoire de nos mères et de nos grands-mères. Chez les peuples autochtones, les femmes détiennent des générations de savoirs écologiques, pourtant ces connaissances sont trop souvent invisibilisées. Alors que les changements climatiques et la dégradation des terres s’accélèrent, nos savoirs ne sont pas des traditions du passé — ce sont des outils de résilience pour le présent et de survie pour l’avenir, protégeant à la fois nos communautés et la Terre que nous partageons », a-t-elle expliqué. Leurs témoignages font écho aux données mondiales : les peuples autochtones gèrent environ un quart des terres de la planète, dont une grande partie est très riche en biodiversité. Les femmes jouent un rôle central dans cette gestion, tout en demeurant sous-représentées dans les ministères de l’environnement, les instances foncières et les négociations multilatérales. Au sein du Caucus Genre, cette expertise a été directement intégrée au débat politique — de la sécurisation des droits fonciers menacés, à la combinaison des savoirs ancestraux et scientifiques, en passant par la restauration de paysages dégradés par l’érosion, la sécheresse ou la déforestation. Les intervenantes de Mongolie ont mis en avant les réalités auxquelles sont confrontées les femmes éleveuses rurales, notamment la perte de bétail due aux phénomènes climatiques extrêmes et l’absence de droits fonciers ou d’accès au crédit, qui limitent leur autonomie économique. Le message d’une éleveuse a particulièrement résonné : « Le sol, c’est la vie — et notre vie dépend du sol. »  Ces contributions devraient orienter les recommandations sensibles au genre issues de la réunion. Une menace croissante aux conséquences genrées Lorsque les discussions se sont tournées vers les risques climatiques, une autre réalité est apparue avec netteté : l’impact disproportionné des tempêtes de sable et de poussière. Les SDS s’intensifient dans de nombreuses régions, affectant des communautés d’Afrique du Nord, du Moyen-Orient, d’Asie, d’Océanie et même d’Europe. Ces tempêtes soulèvent près de deux milliards de tonnes de poussière dans l’atmosphère chaque année, et au moins un quart de ces événements sont exacerbés par des pratiques d’utilisation des terres non durables. Leurs impacts touchent de multiples secteurs — agriculture, sécurité hydrique, transports, santé — mais ne sont pas répartis équitablement. Dans les communautés rurales et à faible revenu, les femmes sont souvent exposées plus longtemps en raison du travail agricole, de la collecte d’eau et des activités de marché. À l’intérieur des foyers, la poussière s’accumule dans les espaces de cuisine et de vie, augmentant les risques respiratoires. Et lorsque les tempêtes entraînent la fermeture des écoles, des marchés ou des récoltes, la charge de soins et la perte de revenus reposent d’abord sur les femmes. Tout au long du Caucus Genre, les participants ont mis en avant une lacune persistante : l’absence de données ventilées par sexe. Sans ces données, les systèmes d’alerte rapide et les plans de préparation négligent les vulnérabilités des femmes et les stratégies qu’elles utilisent déjà. Le renforcement de ces systèmes d’information devrait figurer parmi les recommandations issues du CRIC23.  Une évolution dans la représentation Cette année marque également une avancée importante pour la participation des femmes aux processus de la Convention. Grâce au Fonds pour les femmes déléguées (WDF) — soutenu par le programme mondial de la GIZ « Renforcement du pouvoir d’agir des femmes pour des zones rurales résilientes » (WE4R), financé par le ministère fédéral allemand de la Coopération économique et du Développement — des femmes provenant de pays touchés par la sécheresse et de pays en développement ont pu participer pleinement aux sessions du CRIC23 et bénéficier d’une formation ciblée en négociation en préparation de la COP17. Les données de la CNULCD montrent l’ampleur des progrès encore nécessaires : les femmes ne représentaient que 27 % des délégués à la COP15 et 33 % lors de la dernière session du CRIC. Le groupe du WDF a apporté une expertise allant de l’hydrologie, la foresterie et l’agronomie aux politiques environnementales et au leadership communautaire, enrichissant à la fois le Caucus Genre et les discussions plus larges. « Investir dans les femmes négociatrices, c’est investir dans des décisions foncières plus inclusives, efficaces et durables. Leur leadership renforce non seulement les salles de négociation, mais aussi les solutions mises en œuvre dans leurs pays», a déclaré Andreas Lange, responsable du programme de la GIZ. COP17 : ancrer les politiques dans l’expérience vécue À l’approche de la COP17 en Mongolie, les discussions du CRIC23 convergent vers une conclusion claire : la dégradation des terres et la sécheresse ne peuvent être efficacement combattues sans les perspectives des femmes qui gèrent la terre au quotidien. Leurs savoirs — scientifiques, traditionnels et expérientiels- sont essentiels pour restaurer les parcours pastoraux, améliorer la santé des sols, se préparer aux SDS et préserver la continuité culturelle face aux pressions environnementales. Les intervenantes ont également appelé à un soutien accru à l’éducation des filles autochtones, à un meilleur accès à la technologie et au crédit, ainsi qu’à la reconnaissance du travail domestique, agricole et artisanal non rémunéré des femmes — autant d’éléments essentiels pour maintenir la gestion durable des terres à travers les générations. Le Caucus Genre a souligné un message simple mais décisif : les politiques de protection des terres doivent refléter l’expérience de celles et ceux qui en dépendent le plus — faute de quoi elles risquent de répondre à la crise en apparence, mais pas en pratique.  

As negotiators meet in Panama City for the 23rd session of the UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23), they gather in a country that treats climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation as interlinked challenges. The new Panama’s Nature Pledge is set to bring the next-generation climate promise, updated biodiversity strategy and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) strategy into a single national framework, also covering oceans and plastics. It shows how one country can align all three Rio Conventions and unlock finance to accelerate action. That same logic has been at the heart of the LDN Target Setting Programme (LDN TSP) for almost a decade. Since 2016, the programme has helped 131 countries commit to voluntary LDN targets, with 124 reporting their baselines and targets through the UNCCD, and collectively aiming to restore close to 600 million hectares of degraded lands. Restoration work done in the field by a volunteer groupA global shift from pledges to plans LDN stems from a simple idea: the world’s productive land base should at least remain stable and grow where possible. In less than ten years, the LDN TSP has given governments a common language and toolkit to map where degradation is happening, agree on measurable, time bound targets and identify measures that fit national realities. LDN TSP 2.0: More ambitious, more bankable If the first eight years of LDN TSP were about enabling countries to set and validate LDN targets based on best- available data, the second phase of this programme (LDN TSP 2.0) is about making those targets sharper and more actionable. Eighteen countries from every region are refining their voluntary commitments to achieve land degradation neutrality so they are more specific, time-bound, quantitative, spatially explicit, gender responsive and tied to land-use planning following a COP15 mandate. These priorities were clearly reflected in a recent global knowledge exchange webinar on LDN TSP 2.0, where 100 representatives of countries and partner agencies reviewed progress to date ahead of CRIC23. Integrated land use planning inception workshop May 2025 South Africa Photo : © Dr. Ernest Daemane, South African National ParksIn Sri Lanka, for example, updated LDN work is being used to align land-use decisions with national climate and biodiversity strategies and to prioritize the most vulnerable landscapes for action. In Central Asia, countries are using LDN targets to connect land restoration with drought resilience and more sustainable management of rangelands and drylands. In Argentina, new LDN targets   seek to improve the sustainable management of their wetlands. This second phase also pushes governments to think like investors, by helping them identify priority landscapes, estimate costs and benefits and structure projects and programmes that can attract climate and development finance. Negotiations training for national focal points and a write-shop on development of large-scale investment programme for Pacific SIDS, Seoul, Korea 2023Why this matters for everyone, not just negotiators Up to 40 per cent of the planet’s land is already degraded, affecting billions of people.  When land is degraded, harvests decline, food becomes more expensive, rural livelihoods weaken and people are forced to move. LDN helps reverse this pattern by restoring land, strengthening ecosystems and generating economic benefits that far outweigh the initial investments. The Rio synergies dividend Panama’s reference to its Nature Pledge during CRIC23 reinforces a clear message: climate, biodiversity and land are not three separate problems. Land is the common thread that allows us to materialize synergies. Country stories on the new Rio Conventions platform show how land restoration is becoming a practical link between climate, biodiversity and land agendas. Examples range from national work in Sri Lanka to regional initiatives in Central Asia, where managing land degradation is central to climate resilience and food security. In Uzbekistan, hectares of sturdy saxaul shrubs are planted as the first line of defense against desertification and sand and dust storms originating from the dried-up Aral seabedNigeria is updating its land targets in parallel with its National Net Zero Nature Positive plan (NZNP) ensuring that both processes reinforce each other.  By aligning these efforts, countries can stretch limited public finance further and create stronger cases for private investment. From targets to transformative projects Ambitious targets need equally ambitious implementation plans. That is where Land Degradation Neutrality Transformative Projects and Programmes (LDN TPPs) come in. These are large-scale, country driven programmes that bundle individual projects into coherent packages aligned with national LDN priorities.  Under the second phase of the programme, participating countries are defining TPPs through the Global Mechanism’s Partnership for Project Preparation to turn revised targets into concrete funding proposals. In Benin and the Central African Republic, work supported by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory is helping to define priority landscapes, integrate gender analysis and structure programmes  for submission to climate and development funds. In Argentina, two strategic projects are being developed to strengthen integrated land-use planning and create synergies between the country’s updated land targets and its wetlands conservation goals under RAMSAR. At CRIC23 in Panama, the new phase of the LDN work is moving from technical workshops into the political spotlight. The Global Mechanism is presenting progress on revised targets, new tools and emerging project pipelines in plenary, while land degradation neutrality features throughout the week’s programme, from interactive discussions on resource mobilization to country-led side events. Landscape view of lush, green hills and farmland in Jimma, Ethiopia, highlighting the positive impact of sustainable agriculture and land restorationTracking progress – and the remaining gap Transparent data is essential to convince citizens, partners and investors that LDN commitments are a sound investment. Key UNCCD knowledge tools – notably the LDN targets tracking tool and the UNCCD Data Dashboard – allow users to see how much land is degrading or being restored and to follow progress towards voluntary LDN targets. New tools are also being developed to support the integration of LDN as a guiding principle for smarter and better-informed land use planning decisions that avoid future land degradation. “A decade of LDN target setting has proved that restoring land is not a luxury, it is basic infrastructure for our economies,” says Louise Baker, Managing Director of the UNCCD Global Mechanism. “If we invest now in LDN TSP 2.0, we are not just planting trees, we are stabilizing food systems, protecting biodiversity and creating new jobs where they are needed most.” In Panama this integrated vision becomes the highlight of the side event “Restoring Land, Building Sustainable Futures: Success Stories from the Changwon Initiative,” hosted by the Republic of Korea. It gives participants a front-row insight into how the Changwon Initiative has supported the development of the LDN Target Setting Programme and its second phase, strengthened science–policy linkages through the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface and invested in capacity building that helps countries move from pilot projects to nationwide implementation. Success stories – from local pilot sites to national-scale programmes – demonstrate how long-term, strategic donor engagement is enabling countries to translate land targets into concrete action on the ground. As Barron Orr, Chief Scientist of the UNCCD, put it: “Land Degradation Neutrality is about doing the right things in the right places at the right scale. The scientific guidance produced by the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface has helped countries pursue all of their economic, social and environmental objectives in an inclusive and integrated way — so that biodiversity is protected where it is highest, food is grown where soils are most productive and new development does not harm either. This approach places a strong foundation of healthy land underneath global efforts to achieve all the SDGs.” Amina, leader of a women’s collective in Jimma, Ethiopia, proudly standing in front of her community members engaged in agroforestry and land restoration activitiesWith the right support from development banks, climate and biodiversity funds, impact investors and philanthropy, LDN TSP 2.0 can enable countries to turn degraded hectares into thriving landscapes and resilient communities.  As countries gear up for next year’s UNCCD COP17 that will mark ten years of this global effort, the focus shifts from targets agreed to real results delivered on the ground.   

How Communities of Learning and Practice are speeding action in the face of a new drought era

This week at COP30 in Belém, Brazil – birthplace of the three Rio Conventions – land, climate and nature took center stage as governments and partners looked at how action on all three can move forward together for stronger impact and lasting results. A lineup of high-level events on ecosystem restoration, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture confirmed UNCCD as a key player in advancing Rio synergies, placing land at the cornerstone of humanity’s response to the triple planetary crisis. Synergies in the spotlight Participants stressed that climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are not separate challenges, but different symptoms of a single planetary crisis that needs to be tackled in an integrated way. By linking their mandates, the Rio Conventions aim to turn shared challenges into new opportunities and deliver solutions that benefit people, economies and ecosystems alike. UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized this shared direction, noting: “Climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are one interconnected crisis – and integrated action delivers the fastest, most durable results. New national climate and adaptation plans reflect this. They include biodiversity, ecosystems and nature-based solutions. Throughout this COP, the message has been clear: the Paris Agreement is working – but we must make it work faster, fairer, and at far greater scale.” UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza, CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the COP30 venueThe Rio Conventions Presidencies, Parties and partners underlined how more coherent land and sea use planning, better aligned finance and shared monitoring systems can reduce duplication and increase impact on the ground. A joint statement by the Rio Convention Presidencies issued at Belém marks a key moment in aligning Rio Presidency initiatives on land restoration, sustainable resource management and ecosystem resilience. Land at the center At the high-level roundtable “Bridging Action Agenda from COP16 to COP30: Strengthening synergies across land, climate and nature”, the UNCCD COP16 and COP17 Presidencies warned that efforts to address climate change and biodiversity loss will fall short if land continues to be treated in isolation. The UNCCD COP16 Presidency highlighted the Riyadh Action Agenda as a practical attempt to bring land, the ocean and the atmosphere together in national planning and finance. Looking ahead to UNCCD COP17, Mongolia underscored that pathways to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are indivisible and must be embedded in national policies and plans. From Rio to Belém At the joint Rio Conventions’ side event “From Rio to Belém: Synergistic action for ecosystem restoration and climate resilience”, COP Presidencies, government, private sector and civil society leaders illustrated how this agenda is being translated into practice. UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza stressed that this is not about choosing between individual priorities, noting: “We are talking about a new development pathway that could operate within the planetary boundaries, and generating a model that can guarantee that we live in a prosperous society while at the same time protecting our most valuable asset — the living Earth.” UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea MezaReflecting on the outcomes of COP30, CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker highlighted the joint resolve of the three conventions, noting: “At COP30 the Presidencies and Secretariats of the Rio Conventions joined forces to promote integrated action on climate, biodiversity and land. Synergies are the only way forward. The world needs to take bold steps for progress across the Rio Conventions’ interlinked objectives.” Finance for farmland Finance for land-based action was another prominent theme. COP30 saw the ministerial launch of the Resilient Agriculture Investment for net-Zero land degradation (RAIZ) accelerator, a Brazil-led initiative to mobilize public and private finance for restoring degraded farmland at scale. With over one billion hectares of farmland degraded worldwide, speakers stressed the urgency of investing in soil health, productivity and resilience. RAIZ offers a pathway to align climate action, food security and biodiversity protection, with countries in the lead and finance flowing to where it matters most. Building on Brazil’s experience in blending public and private capital for restoration through initiatives such as Green Way and EcoInvest, the accelerator will support governments to map degraded landscapes, identify investable solutions and design co-investment vehicles that de risk private finance and lower the cost of capital for farmers and rural communities. Hindou Oumaru Ibrahim, President and Coordinator, Association of Indigenous Women and Peoples of ChadSynergies from the ground up Peer learning on concrete national approaches to linking NDC targets on land degradation and desertification was the focus of an event organized by Türkiye in the margins of COP30. Brazil shared a three- pillar approach of aligning planning tools across sectors, mobilizing integrated financing and advancing nature based solutions with strong community involvement, while Panama shared plans to streamline work under multiple conventions through joint reporting mechanisms and its Nature Pledge – a roadmap that unifies national efforts to tackle land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.  Azerbaijan emphasized science based, integrated work on water management, forest restoration and land rehabilitation, Colombia showed how outcomes from the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework are being implemented through community-driven projects that advance biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable land use together and Mongolia presented priorities on desertification, land degradation, water–land interactions and nature based infrastructural solutions. Dialogues at Belém also brought to the forefront the importance of human rights-based approaches, Indigenous Peoples’ leadership and inclusive engagement with vulnerable communities, civil society and the private sector in maximizing synergies among multilateral environmental agreements. H.E .Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of the Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, COP16 PresidencyNext stops on the journey The COP30 outcomes help anchor land at the heart of the Rio Conventions’ action agendas. The next stop will be UNCCD CRIC23 in Panama this December, where Parties will review progress on land-based solutions ahead of UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in 2026. 2026 will be the next “Triple COP” year, and an opportunity for all three Rio conventions to align national commitments, showcase joint solutions and build the political momentum needed to turn Rio synergies into coordinated action on the ground. We invite you to visit rioconventions.org to learn more about current initiatives, integrated approaches and case studies on land, climate and nature synergies.