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Depuis des siècles, la vie des populations est liée à la terre et à l'eau : les éleveurs dépendent des pâturages et des parcours, les agriculteurs comptent sur le débit des rivières pour irriguer leurs champs. Ces paysages ont modelé les cultures, les moyens de subsistance et les traditions à travers le monde. Mais aujourd'hui, les pressions d’origine humaine - changement climatique, dégradation des terres et sécheresse - détruisent en quelques années seulement ce que les communautés ont construit et protégé pendant des siècles. À l'échelle mondiale, jusqu'à 40 % des terres sont dégradées, mettant en danger près de la moitié de l'humanité. Les sécheresses, à elles seules, affectent déjà plus de 1,8 milliard de personnes dans le monde, excerçcant une pression sans précédent sur les systèmes hydriques. . Ensemble, ces pressions menacent non seulement les écosystèmes et la biodiversité, mais aussi la sécurité alimentaire, l'approvisionnement en eau et la stabilité du climat. Lors du Forum mondial de l'alimentation 2025 (10-17 octobre) à Rome, la Convention des Nations Unies sur la Lutte Contre la Désertification (CNULCD) s'est jointe à l'Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO) pour organiser deux dialogues porteurs d’un message commun : la santé des terres et la gestion durable de l'eau doivent aller de pair. La session conjointe sur les peuples autochtones et les parcours a souligné l’importance des droits fonciers et de la valeur culturelle de ces écosystèmes. Lors du Dialogue de Rome sur l'eau 2025, dirigé par la FAO, les communautés ont partagé leurs expériences sur la restauration des sols et la protection de l'eau afin d’assurer les récoltes et aider les familles à faire face au changement climatique. En marge du Forum, la FAO et la CNULD ont renouvelé leur partenariat afin de renforcer leur coopération en matière de gestion durable des terres, des sols et de l'eau. Le protocole d'accord, signé le 15 octobre par le Directeur général de la FAO, M. QU Dongyu, et la Secrétaire exécutive de la CNULCD, Dr. Yasmine Fouad, établit un cadre commun pour éviter, réduire et inverser la dégradation des terres et des sols, renforcer la résilience face à la sécheresse et promouvoir des solutions intégrées associant la restauration des terres, la transformation des systèmes agroalimentaires et l'action climatique.  Ce partenariat sera mis en œuvre dans le cadre d'un plan d'action conjoint FAO-CNULCD, qui mobilisera l'expertise des réseaux institutionnels et s'alignera sur les priorités des deux organisations. Le plan d'action se concentrera sur trois axes principaux : soutenir le dialogue politique et le renforcement des capacités pour lutter contre la dégradation des terres, renforcer la résilience face à la sécheresse et promouvoir des approches fondées sur les données et le partage des connaissances. Les gardiens des pâturages / parcours de la planète  Les pâturages couvrent plus de la moitié de la surface de la Terre et abritent un tiers des zones de biodiversité les plus riches au monde. Ils assurent les moyens de subsistance à 500 millions de personnes et stockent près d'un tiers du carbone terrestre, ce qui les rend essentiels à la stabilité du climat et au patrimoine culturel. Pourtant, les pratiques non durables et le changement climatique poussent nombre de ces écosystèmes vers des seuils critiques. Pour celles et ceux qui en dépendent, cette réalité se vit au quotidien. Les éleveurs parcourent des distances toujours plus longues à la recherche de pâturages. Les savoirs ancestraux, transmis de génération en génération, sont aujourd'hui menacés. Les femmes sont souvent les premières à ressentir les effets : elles doivent marcher plus loin pour trouver de l'eau et du combustible, et étirer les maigres récoltes pour nourrir leurs enfants.  Pourtant, ces mêmes communautés sont également à l'avant-garde des solutions. Les femmes revitalisent les sols et protègent les semences. Les peuples autochtones préservent la gouvernance coutumière et les savoirs ancestraux. Les communautés locales s'efforcent de maintenir leurs moyens de subsistance au sein de leurs propres familles.  Les jeunes apportent innovations pour créer des ponts entre tradition et technologie. Leur engagement montre que la restauration des pâturages est non seulement possible, mais qu'elle offre également de vastes possibilités de récompenses pour tous.  « La protection des terres autochtones n'est pas une option, c'est une question de survie, de dignité et de justice », a déclaré Yasmine Fouad, Secrétaire Exécutive de la CNULCD. « Les peuples autochtones et les éleveurs sont des partenaires indispensables dans nos efforts mondiaux. » S'appuyant sur la dynamique créée par la 16e session de la Conférence des Parties à la CNULCD (COP16) à Riyad, où les pays ont adopté la première décision mondiale sur les pâturages et les éleveurs et ont créé un caucus des peuples autochtones, les participants réunis à Rome ont appelé à un renforcement des droits fonciers, à la reconnaissance des gouvernances coutumières et à la pleine participation des communautés autochtones à l'élaboration des politiques publiques. Ils ont souligné que la restauration des parcours ne visait pas seulement à protéger les moyens de subsistance, mais aussi à absorber le carbone, à protéger les communautés contre les chocs climatiques et à sauvegarder la biodiversité. L'eau comme culture, mémoire et survie Le Dialogue de Rome sur l'eau 2025, le forum phare de la FAO sur l'eau et l'agriculture, a fait écho à cette urgence. Les sécheresses sont aujourd'hui un tiers plus fréquentes qu'en 2000 et coûtent déjà à plus de 300 milliards de dollars américains par an à l'économie mondiale dans de multiples secteurs. Combinées, la dégradation des terres et les sécheresses représentent une perte annuelle de près de 900 milliards de dollars américains. Si les tendances actuelles se poursuivent, trois personnes sur quatre dans le monde pourraient être confrontées à la sécheresse d'ici 2050. Mais l'eau n'est pas seulement une ressource économique. Elle est aussi culture, mémoire et survie. Lorsque les rivières s'assèchent ou que les deltas deviennent salés, les communautés perdent non seulement leurs récoltes, mais aussi leurs histoires, leurs chants et leurs modes de vie. Des terres et des systèmes hydrique sains nourrissent les familles, régulent le climat et préservent la biodiversité. Les protéger signifie défendre à la fois les moyens de subsistance et la capacité de la planète à soutenir la vie.  Lors du Dialogue, la FAO, la CNULCD et plus de 80 partenaires ont présenté des solutions mises en œuvre depuis des décennies, allant de l'irrigation et de la réduction des risques de catastrophe à l'agriculture régénérative, en passant par la restauration des zones humides et le pâturage durable. Les données montrent que chaque dollar investi rapporte entre 7 et 30 dollars en termes de moyens de subsistance, de résilience climatique, d'alimentation et d'écosystèmes.   « L'eau, c'est la vie. Mais l'eau, c'est aussi la terre, la nourriture et la paix », a fait remarquer Yasmine Fouad, de la CNULCD. « Les systèmes alimentaires ne peuvent être résilients sans des systèmes hydriques résilients. Et les systèmes hydriquesne peuvent l‘être sans des terres en bonne santé. »  Message de Rome À l'issue des deux dialogues, les thèmes de la terre et de l'eau ont été tissés ensemble pour former un message clé : les crises ne peuvent être résolues isolément. Restaurer les parcours et sécuriser les systèmes hydriques sont les deux faces d'une même pièce, essentielles pour l'alimentation, le climat et la paix. Comme l'a résumé Yasmine Fouad, secrétaire exécutive de la CNULCD, « la gestion durable de l'eau et des pâturages pour garantir la sécurité alimentaire : une action avec un double résultat. La communauté internationale agira de concert lors de la COP 17 de la CNULCD ». Les réunions ont également souligné l'importance de l'inclusion. Les femmes, les peuples autochtones et les jeunes ne sont pas seulement parmi les plus touchés, ils sont également à l'avant-garde des solutions. Des éleveurs qui restaurent les prairies au Sahel aux jeunes innovateurs qui conçoivent des outils adaptés au climat, en passant par les femmes qui préservent les semences et le patrimoine, leur leadership est déjà en train de façonner l'avenir. À l'approche de la COP 17 de la CNULCD en Mongolie et de l'Année internationale des pâturages et des éleveurs, le message de Rome est clair : les outils et les connaissances existent. Ce qu'il faut maintenant, c'est la volonté politique de les développer à plus grande échelle, pour protéger à la fois les systèmes naturels qui soutiennent la vie et les cultures qui lui donnent tout son sens. 

The UNCCD is pleased to announce that the new version of the Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS), launched in August 2025, is ready for the upcoming 2026 UNCCD national reporting process.    In summary, PRAIS has been streamlined and enhanced through key innovations such as a country overview dashboard, expanded user roles to support teamwork, peer-to-peer chat, improved validation tools, flexible data sourcing and clearer delineation of reporting obligations to enhance the user experience. These updates are in response to requests made by Parties.   Tentative reporting deadlines   Tentative deadlines for submission of national reports are set as follows: November 2026 for Strategic Objective (SO) 1 and February 2027 for the remaining SOs. The CRIC Bureau in consultation with the Executive Secretary will monitor progress and may adjust this timeline, if necessary.  Technical support for Parties   In line with decision 2/COP.16, partner regional institutions will provide technical support to Parties during the reporting process, including the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC), the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) and the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS). Additional partnerships are being explored and consultants will fill any remaining support gaps.    A phased approach   Although the launch of PRAIS marks the beginning of the 2026 UNCCD reporting process, capacity-building and support services will be rolled out in phases, depending on the availability of funding. The phased approach is outlined below:  Phase 1 (ongoing): PRAIS launch with supporting documentation and online help desk (https://support.unccd.int); Phase 2 (December 2025): Training of Trainers in Panama for regional institutions and consultants; Phase 3 (January – April 2026): Regional in-person training for national focal points and reporting officers; Phase 4 (February - March 2026): Release of e-learning video tutorials; Phase 5 (January 2026 – February 2027): Ongoing technical backstopping and quality assurance of national reports before final submission. Following the conclusion of national reporting, the CRIC will review and analyze the submitted information at its twenty-fifth session.  In view of the phases mentioned above, Parties are encouraged to finalize arrangements and begin utilizing enabling environment funds made available by the Global Environment Facility at national level so that stakeholders can be notified and prompted to start collecting necessary data and information for integration into PRAIS.   Reporting team preparation  To begin preparations, Parties are encouraged to assemble their reporting teams under the leadership of the designated reporting officer. Each team member should have a separate PRAIS account, log into https://reporting.unccd.int and familiarize themselves with the system functions and reporting forms and review the supporting documentation.   Unless formally communicated otherwise, the UNCCD secretariat will consider that the national reporting officer from the 2022 reporting process remains in place for the 2026 reporting round. If a change is needed, the National Focal Point should submit either their own expression of interest or the contact details of the nominated individual to the secretariat via email at reporting@unccd.int.  Supporting documents to assist with reporting include:  Available now:  Addendum to the Good Practice Guidance on SDG Indicator 15.3.1 (advanced unedited version)  UNCCD Reporting Manual (updated for the 2026 reporting process and available in all UN languages)  Updated PRAIS 4 User Manual  Coming soon:  Updated e-learning video tutorials (in all UN languages)  Good Practice Guidance for National Reporting on Strategic Objective 5  For any questions regarding the reporting process or modalities, please contact the technical team via the help desk or write directly to reporting@unccd.int.  

In July 2025, Minagi Rupesinghe had the honor of representing Sri Lanka at the World Aquatics Swimming and Open Water Championships in Singapore — a lifelong dream come true.

Across Mexico’s rural and indigenous communities, land is more than a resource – it is central to daily life, food production and cultural identity. Yet for many – especially women and indigenous peoples – secure access to land remains out of reach.Over 70 per cent of Mexico’s land is at risk of degradation. At the same time, women – who produce more than half of the country’s food – own less than 30 per cent of farmland. This growing gap between those who care for the land and those who control it threatens sustainable land use. Without secure land rights, many are excluded from decisions that shape their environment and future.To tackle these challenges, Mexico launched a series of national consultations on land tenure and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Designed to improve land governance systems, the consultations emphasized gender equality, indigenous rights and local perspectives as key pillars of the country’s LDN strategy.Held across several regions, they brought together 45 participants – 30 women and 15 men – including indigenous leaders from Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Sonora and other states. Almost all of these leaders were women, who shared their experiences managing community lands and protecting ecosystems.The Changwon Initiative: Making inclusion possibleThe consultations were made possible in part by support from the Changwon Initiative – a programme of the Korea Forest Service and UNCCD – with additional backing from international partners. Funding through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) helped cover key logistical costs, ensuring rural and indigenous voices could be heard.This support ensured that traditionally excluded groups – especially indigenous women from ejidos (communal lands) – were not only present, but central to the dialogue. Many shared firsthand stories about barriers to land inheritance, being sidelined in local decision-making and the urgent need to revive degraded soil and ecosystems.“Women living in the countryside are becoming the protagonists of social, political and economic change,” said Dr. Maribel Méndez de Lara, Magistrate of the Superior Agrarian Court. “Land ownership gives women legal protection, autonomy to make decisions and the ability to fully participate in their communities.”From dialogue to actionThe consultations generated concrete proposals, including a Strategic National Programme to regularize land rights for women and indigenous communities, legal guarantees of female representation in ejido decision-making bodies and greater integration of sustainable practices into collective land systems.Participants – particularly rural and indigenous women – gained skills through leadership training, project planning workshops and awareness campaigns that emphasized their right to land and participation in land governance. Government officials and policymakers also benefited, gaining a better understanding of how to design more inclusive land governance systems that truly reflect community needs.“There are 13.6 million women living in rural areas in Mexico,” said Dr. Beatriz Casas Arellanes, Director of Social and Political Participation for Equality of the National Women's Institute (INMUJERES),. “Many of them are already leading community life and preserving biodiversity. What they need is recognition and access to rights.”Innovative tools and approachesThe consultations were guided by a participatory approach developed under the UNCCD–FAO Joint Initiative and based on the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT). Adapted to Mexico’s social and political context, this method ensured that rural leaders, women, government officials and international experts all had a voice.Gender-sensitive tools were used not just to include women, but to ensure their perspectives shaped the outcome.The Dialogue opened with a ceremonial offering called a Tlalmanalli, led by indigenous grandmothers. Made of flowers, seeds and traditional medicines, it served as a reminder that the Earth is alive – and its care, a shared responsibility.Participants also shared inspiring examples already underway, such as mobile legal clinics helping women resolve land disputes and forestry programmes advancing gender equality – small but meaningful signs of change.Lessons learned and the path forwardOne of the key lessons from the consultations is that long-term progress on land tenure requires consistent effort, strong coordination and engagement at all levels. Local and regional consultations – alongside national ones – proved essential for identifying the diverse challenges communities face across the country.Just as important was the finding that inclusive participation leads to better, more grounded solutions. When women, indigenous leaders and local actors are part of the process, outcomes are more relevant – and more likely to last.While the broader policy impact is still unfolding, the consultations helped establish a foundation for more inclusive land governance in Mexico. These conversations laid the groundwork for future strategies and reforms that reflect the realities of those who live and work on the land.Shaping the future of land rights and restorationThe Changwon Initiative played a pivotal role in making these consultations possible – not only by providing funding, but by championing inclusion as a core principle of land restoration. Its support helped ensure that rural and indigenous voices, especially those of women, were not just heard but helped shape the conversation.By backing this process, the Changwon Initiative demonstrated how targeted international cooperation can drive national progress – setting a global example for integrating land tenure security into LDN strategies.Thanks to this support, communities across Mexico now have stronger tools – and a stronger voice – to secure their land, protect their environment and build a more sustainable and inclusive future.

A ceremonial tree planting at the Monaghan Peace Campus today marked the official launch of The People’s Peace Forest (PPF)—Ireland’s contribution to the UNCCD Peace Forest Initiative – a global programme that links land restoration with peace-building.

How the Changwon Initiative helped build the UNCCD Drought ToolboxDrought is no longer a rare or distant event. It is becoming one of the most serious and far-reaching challenges of our time. Since 2000, droughts have become 29 percent more frequent and intense. By 2050, as much as three-quarters of the world’s population could be affected.For millions of people, this means more than just dry weather — it means failed harvests, shrinking water supplies, rising food prices and displacement from their homes and livelihoods.But drought, unlike sudden disasters, offers a unique opportunity: it gives us time. And when time is used wisely, it can turn risk into readiness.From crisis to preparedness: The birth of the Drought ToolboxFaced with the growing impact of drought, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) recognized the need for a shift — from reacting to crises after they hit, to preparing before they begin. This led to the creation of the Drought Toolbox: a science-based, globally accessible platform that helps countries and communities assess, monitor and reduce drought risk.Designed as a practical support tool, the Toolbox brings together resources for developing national drought plans, identifying vulnerable areas, setting up early warning systems and learning from real-world examples of drought resilience. Behind this comprehensive platform lies a key driver: the Changwon Initiative.The Changwon Initiative: Turning vision into actionLaunched by the Korea Forest Service in partnership with the UNCCD, the Changwon Initiative was instrumental in transforming the Drought Toolbox from concept to reality. Through targeted funding and technical support, the Initiative helped bring together global experts, institutions and local stakeholders to co-create the platform.Workshops convened with its support became spaces for cross-sector collaboration. Government agencies, scientists and land managers worked side by side to align methodologies, share regional knowledge and design an interface that could speak to both policymakers and practitioners. The result was not just a digital tool, but a living, evolving resource for drought resilience.When Tools Reach People: Global Examples of ImpactAcross the world, the Drought Toolbox is helping countries move from crisis response to long-term resilience — with real results on the ground. In Costa Rica, it became the foundation for a national workshop that brought together ministries, improved coordination and led to drought strategies based on shared data and clear priorities. In Andhra Pradesh, India, local leaders used the Toolbox to identify the most drought-prone areas, translating data into practical action — from installing rainwater harvesting systems to planting drought-resistant crops and training farmers to monitor conditions themselves.In South Africa, the Toolbox supported the integration of early warning systems into land-use and agricultural planning, enabling farmers to adopt more sustainable practices and authorities to act on forecasts before droughts took their toll. Meanwhile, in Central Asia, countries facing similar climate pressures used the platform to harmonize monitoring efforts and coordinate their responses — showing how regional cooperation can strengthen resilience across borders.Collaboration is keyOne of the most important lessons from the Toolbox’s creation is that preparedness is not just technical — it’s collaborative. The platform draws from the expertise of partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), and grounds that knowledge in the real-life experiences of those facing drought on a daily basis.This spirit of collaboration also sparked the development of complementary tools like the Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) Toolbox, recognizing the interconnectedness of climate risks, land degradation and human health.A lasting legacyThe Changwon Initiative did more than fund a product. It helped shape a process that placed accessibility, usability and inclusivity at the heart of drought preparedness. Thanks to this investment, the Drought Toolbox has become a vital global asset — used by countries, institutions and communities to plan ahead and protect what matters most.As droughts grow more frequent and complex, the need for practical, integrated solutions becomes more urgent. The Drought Toolbox — born of international collaboration and local insight — shows us what’s possible when we choose to act before crisis hits.It is a reminder that while we cannot stop the rain from disappearing, we can prepare wisely for its absence — and that preparation begins not with fear, but with the right tools in the right hands.