Coordinated by UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and prepared by 18 UN agencies through the UN’s Environment Management Group (EMG), involving over 60 development and environment researchers and practitioners, the report sets out a common vision and agenda for UN agencies to step up their efforts to protect and revitalise dryland, and improve the economic and social well being of drylands communities through a positive development and investment approach. It is published by the United Nations with Foreword by the Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

The report promotes a solutions-focused approach and combats the view that drylands are wastelands – rather, they often enormous opportunity for unlocking achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. It responds to calls by Governments for a coherent UN system-wide response to land challenges. Global Drylands signifies the UN is ‘delivering as one’ in the areas of environment, development and humanitarian assistance for the drylands, bringing together the UN’s expertise, operational and coordination capabilities, and its advocacy role at the country, regional and global levels.