Drylands cover 43 percent of Africa’s surface (excluding deserts), and provide vital ecosystem services for more than half a billion people. They harbour some of the continent’s most celebrated species, produce much of its food, and contribute significantly to economic growth. Yet, too often, the narrative applied to these landscapes is one of scarcity and neglect.

Changing that narrative was a goal of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) digital conference: GLF Africa 2021: Restoring Africa’s Drylands, Accelerating Action On the Ground. Held on the 2-3 June 2021, the conference brought over 7,000 registrants – including 6000 African nationals – together to debunk old myths, and celebrate the abundance, diversity and potential that Africa’s drylands have to offer.

The event reached over 32 million people on social media, and provided a crucial platform for 223 speakers – including 108 women and 35 youth – to share knowledge, shape policy and galvanize global support for Africa’s drylands ahead of the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

A compilation of insight from all those involved, this Outcome Statement summarizes the conference’s key messages, and contains quotes from across the 47 sessions that took place.