JOURNAL

Wednesday, 26 August 2026 

9th meeting 

High-level segment: Ministerial dialogues [item 6]

Ministerial Dialogue on Rangelands and Pastoralists

The President opened the meeting and delivered a statement. 

The dialogue was co-chaired by His Excellency Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi, Minister of the Environment and Tourism of Botswana, and His Excellency Oscar Caputi, Vice-Minister of the Environment of Uruguay. 

Keynote addresses were delivered by Ms. Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, and Ms. Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 

Statements were made by the representatives of Mongolia, Namibia, Lesotho, Fiji, India, Bhutan, Tajikistan, Madagascar, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Chad, Mali, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Kenya, Pakistan, Japan, Türkiye, Comoros, Mauritania, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Burkina Faso, Kyrgyzstan, Iceland, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Dominican Republic, China, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Spain, Mexico, Sudan, Iraq, Burundi, Egypt, the European Union, France, Nepal, Viet Nam and Qatar. 

Statements in their national capacities were also made by the Co-Chairs, the representatives of Botswana and Uruguay. 

The meeting was adjourned. 

10th meeting 

Ministerial Dialogue on Rangelands and Pastoralists

continued

The Conference continued the third Ministerial Dialogue of its seventeenth session. 

Statements were made by the representatives of Timor-Leste, Cuba, Guinea, Saudi Arabia and Zambia. 

Statements were also made by representatives of the United Nations Development Programme; the International Fund for Agricultural Development; the International Organization for Migration; Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflicts Transformation; the International Union for Conservation of Nature; Steppes Without Borders, on behalf of civil society; the International Development Law Organization; and the International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilizations. 

The Conference concluded the high-level segment. 

11th meeting 

The Conference held the COP-Gender Caucus under the theme “Enhancing women herders and pastoralists’ contribution to stewardship and resilience”. 

The President of COP 17 made opening remarks and invited Her Excellency Tarja Kaarina Halonen, former President of Finland, to chair the meeting. 

Opening remarks were also made by Her Excellency Ana Paula Chantre Luna de Carvalho Pereira (Minister of Environment of Angola), Her Excellency Alicia Jaramillo Cabo (Vice-Minister of Environment and Marine Coastal Affairs of Ecuador), Ms. Yasmine Fouad (Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), Ms. Åsa Charlotte Regnér (Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Ms. Chimguundari Navaan-Yunden (National Security and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Mongolia), and Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw (former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). 

The UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador Baaba Maal made a musical performance. 

The panel discussions were moderated by Ms. Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Co-Lead of the IYRP 2026 Working Group on Pastoralism and Gender and Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Management at Colorado State University (United States of America). 

Presentations were made by the following panellists: Ms. Debbie Dowden (Pastoral Leader and Rangelands Advocate and Director of Australian Women in Agriculture of Australia), Ms. Hannah Longole (Executive Director of the Ateker Cultural Center of Uganda), Ms. Bhavana Rabari (President of the Pastoral Women Alliance of Gujarat and Programme Officer at the Maldhari Rural Action Group of India), Ms. Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed (Executive Director of Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency of Ghana), Ms. Grace Scorey (Pastoral Women Council of Tanzania) and Ms. Tamara Crantschaninov (Director and Founder of Vena Public Management Consulting of Brazil). 

Statements were made by the representatives of the European Union, Zimbabwe, Canada, Panama, Spain, Benin, Australia, Eswatini, Sudan and Uganda, as well as UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme. 

Statements were also made by the representatives of Landessa and Association des Femmes Peules Autochtones du Tchad (AFPAT) (on behalf of Indigenous Peoples Caucus). 

The meeting was adjourned.

12th meeting   

Organizational matters [item 1]   

(b) Adoption of the agenda

The Conference resumed its consideration of the item and decided to include agenda item 3, entitled "Final report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework of the Convention" in the agenda of its seventeenth session. 

(f) Organization of work, including the sessions of the subsidiary bodies

The Conference decided to allocate to the Committee of the Whole agenda item 3, entitled "Final report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework of the Convention". 

The meeting was adjourned.

5th meeting 

Final report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework of the Convention [item 3] 

The Committee began its consideration of the item. 

The Committee decided that further discussions on the item be taken up in the CoW Contact Groups.  

The meeting was adjourned.

• Country Parties to the Convention, accredited Observer organizations by the COP (UN and Specialized Agencies, Intergovernmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Business and Industry Entities), Parliamentarians, Mayor, Side Event participants and Media may register to attend the sessions of UNCCD.
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Registration desk opening hours

Any changes to the opening hours of the registration desk will be communicated in the Official Journal of the session.

Delegations are advised to contact Ms. Aphrodite Smagadi (+976 99204285) in Office no. 0-15.

• The provisional list of registered participants attending the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) can be viewed here.
• The list has been generated based on the information entered directly into the Indico registration system by each participant and has been prepared based on the information received by the secretariat as of Thursday, 20 August 2026.
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Delegates are kindly reminded to bring their boarding passes and passports.  

Need support with UNCCD national reporting or the PRAIS reporting platform?

The PRAIS Reporting Helpdesk is available throughout COP 17 in Zone C (connecting corridor next to the DSA Office).

Support is provided daily between 09:00 and 18:00.

Delegates and reporting teams are welcome to visit the Helpdesk for technical assistance and guidance related to reporting requirements and the use of PRAIS.

Inclusion Is Protection 

The United Nations maintains a strict policy of zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) — a commitment that applies equally to persons with disabilities, who can face heightened risk and greater barriers to reporting. 

Every staff member, volunteer, and partner shares responsibility for creating accessible, safe, and respectful spaces for everyone we serve.

Stop, Prevent, Protect 

• STOP – Zero tolerance for inaction on reports of SEA 
• PREVENT – Training and accessible awareness for all personnel 
• PROTECT – Confidential, survivor-centred support with no retaliation

The UNCCD Conference App is an easy tool for participants of official UNCCD events to have access to the latest schedule of events at COP17, including official sessions and meetings, as well as side events in the Blue Zone.

The App also contains all official documents and other relevant information related to the UNCCD process and conference logistics, for COP, CST and CRIC, and allows you to receive notifications on changes. 

The App is available in Apple and Google Play store. 

Medical services will be provided throughout the event by qualified healthcare professionals, ensuring that assistance is readily available. The Medical Care Centers are  located in the (1) Registration Area , in (2) Zone A, near MET-10; and in (3) ZONE C near MET-16.

Emergency Response:

• Immediate Action: Medical vehicles will be stationed on-site to ensure a rapid response in case of emergencies.

• Coordination with Local Services: Collaboration with local emergency teams will be ensured to manage serious medical situations effectively.

• Health and Safety Standards: All procedures will adhere to the most current guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities.

• Ambulance Placement: Ambulances will be strategically located at key areas, including the Blue Zone and VIP sections, to ensure quick access to medical care.

You can find a list of Emergency Contact Numbers HERE. 

Ulaanbaatar Emergency number is 105 (reachable without a SIM card). 

Delegations are advised that wireless internet access is available throughout the venue. The network name is UNCCD-Public, and the password is unccd1706

A Computer Center is located in Area-C, providing 100 workstations and printing facilities. An ICT Helpdesk counter is also available in the same area to assist with technical support.

A link to the stream of the meetings of the COP 17 session can be found on the UN Web TV website, the COP 17 page of the UNCCD website.

Requests for inclusion in the schedule of meetings of regional and interest groups should be communicated to:

Kayhan UI ( kul [at] unccd.int (kul[at]unccd[dot]int) ) or Mahamadou Tari Bako (mbako [at] unccd.int (mbako[at]unccd[dot]int) ).

Several shuttle buses are being offered by the Government of Mongolia. The full schedule can be accessed here:

https://unccdcop17.org/

The Lost and Found service is located near the Registration area, offering convenient access near the Main Entrance.