Press releases
Chifeng, China/Bonn, Germany, 23 May 2012 – The international community needs to agree on a sustainable development goal with a measurable target of achieving zero net land degradation by 2030. Such a bold decision would enhance efforts in all regions of the world to restore degraded land and sustainably manage non-degraded land by means of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices and techniques. “Land is the earth’s natural and indispensable infrastructure for life,” and demands “sustainable land use for all and by all, especially in the agricultural activities.” Dr Mansour N’Diaye, Chef de Cabinet, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) made these remarks this morning at the opening of the Asia Regional Media Workshop on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought taking place in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China. The three-day workshop which ends on Friday, 25 May 2012, brings together journalists from 10 countries in Asia for an interaction with experts on the lessons learned over the last 20 years on the progress made towards the long term sustainability of land and soil, in light of the June UN Conference on Sustainable Development or Rio +20 Conference as it is commonly known. N’Diaye warned that the goals on climate change, on conservation of biological diversity and on forests would not be achieved unless “there is sufficient care and proactive measures for the soil.” “We will not alleviate rural poverty and hunger. We will not ensure long-term food security, nor build resilience to drought and water stress. This will lead to severe consequences, including more conflict over scarce resources,” he added. “Asia is the most severely affected continent in terms of the number of people affected by Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought,” and so is expected to be actively engaged in the negotiations at the Rio+20 Summit, he said. N’Diaye’s call was echoed by Luc Gnacadja, UNCCD Executive Secretary, at a media event also held today in Berlin, Germany, where he spoke to journalists on the need for Rio+20 to agree on sustainable development goal on land. Hyo-Tae Hwang, Director of the International Cooperation Division of Korea Forest Service, speaking at the Chifeng workshop on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea, which is the current President of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD, said left unchecked, desertification, land degradation and drought could threaten up to 90% of Asia’s total land area. He said the Republic of Korea once suffered from land degradation, especially in the aftermath of the Korean War. But with massive reforestation the country was restored. “Today,” he said, “we are sharing our experiences and technologies with nearby countries suffering from land degradation.” Hyo-Tae said as COP10 President, the country would collaborate with the UNCCD to highlight the importance of sustainable land management at national and the global levels. National, regional and local authorities in China presented cases of land rehabilitation in Northern China, particularly the Inner Mongolia area, including Chifeng, where journalists will visit some of the projects. Many South East Asian countries are affected by desert dust storms that originate from the region. The UNCCD was conceived at the Rio ’92 Summit and is the sole Convention that links environment and development, an emphasis now central to the Rio+20 theme of a Green Economy. The Asia Regional Workshop on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought is jointly organized with the State Forestry Administration of China, Republic of Korea and China’s largest media organization, Xinhua News Agency. A similar workshop for the African region will take place from 29-31 May in Algiers, Algeria. About the UNCCD Developed as a result of the Rio Summit, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is a unique instrument that has brought attention to the land degradation affecting some of the most vulnerable people and ecosystems in the world. The UNCCD has 195 Parties (194 countries plus the European Union) and is one of the three “Rio Conventions”, along with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The UNCCD is increasingly recognized as an instrument that can make an important contribution to the achievement of sustainable development and poverty reduction. For more information contact: Ms Wagaki Mwangi UNCCD Secretariat Email: Wmwangi@unccd.int Tel: +49 228 8152820 +49 173 2687593 (mobile)
Bonn, Germany, 17 February 2012 – The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) announced the theme for the 2012 World Day to Combat Desertification, which will be celebrated on 17 June all over the world. UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja presented the slogan for the 2012 World Day to Combat Desertification – “Healthy soil sustains your life: LET’S GO LAND-DEGRADATION NEUTRAL”. “Fertile soil is a finite and irreplaceable resource, which feeds seven million people today and is expected to feed nine billion in 2050. It is a common wealth that provides us not only with food, but also secures water and energy for present and future generations”, Mr. Gnacadja said. “But soil’s caring capacity is often forgotten in global policies for sustainable development. Therefore, the international community should set a zero-net land degradation target. This target can be achieved by sustaining healthy soil and restoring degraded land. We should start with drylands, which support half of the world’s food production systems and are highly vulnerable to desertification, and then adopt successful practices elsewhere.” At the UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on “addressing desertification, land degradation and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication” in September 2011, many world leaders said that the commitment to build a land-degradation neutral world should become an important outcome of the Rio+20. During this meeting, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for sustainable land-use to become “a cornerstone of the green economy for poverty eradication and sustainable development”. The global observance of the World Day to Combat Desertification this year is planned in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Sunday before the start of the Rio+20 Conference. Notes to Editors: About UNCCD Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development issues to the land agenda. The UNCCD addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands. The Convention’s 194 Parties are working to improve the living conditions in the drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought. About World Day to Combat Desertification In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared 17 June the "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" to promote public awareness and the implementation of the UNCCD in the desertification affected countries. Since 1995, Parties to the Convention, the United Nations organizations, international and non-governmental organizations have celebrated 17 June with a series of outreach activities worldwide. The World Day to Combat Desertification is a unique occasion to remind global community that desertification can be effectively tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and cooperation at all levels. About Rio+20 The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio+20, will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012. It will mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. The Conference will result in a political document, which will renew political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and address new and emerging challenges. For more information, please see the concept note on the 2012 World Day to Combat Desertification: Contact: Ms Wagaki Mwangi Public Information and Media Officer UNCCD Secretariat Tel: +49-228-815-2820 E-mail: wmwangi@unccd.int
Bonn, Germany, 14 February 2012 – UNCCD Secretariat with EarthAction and The Global Citizens Initiative (TGCI) will organize a Virtual World Community Forum on Desertification and Citizen Action – Saving the Life-Giving Soils of the World that will take place Tuesday, February 28 through Tuesday, March 6, 2012. This online forum is being made available at no cost to participants.
Rewarding leadership for sustainable land management Bonn, Germany, 9 February 2012 – Applications for the 2012 Land for Life Award are now open. The award will go to inspiring initiatives which secure the health and productivity of soil for the well-being of present and future generations. The prize will be awarded to those efforts which reduce land degradation through sustainable land management, or are outstanding examples of political leadership, policy, business, advocacy campaigns or scientific research. More on criteria. The Jury particularly welcomes nominations of candidates whose work is: innovative, collaborative, achieved in partnership across sectors, supports free knowledge sharing and capacity building, empowers vulnerable and marginalized groups, and fosters gender equality, cultural diversity and social inclusion. Three awards will be granted in 2012 from a total prize fund of up to USD 100,000. The deadline for applications is 29 February 2012. Nominations are welcome from: individuals institutions non-governmental organizations and civil society private sector academic and research organizations policy makers journalists and media Winners will be announced on the World Day to Combat Desertification,17 June 2012.
Bonn, Germany, 1 February 2012 – The following message is an excerpt from the condolence letter addressed to His Excellency Dr. Lee Don Koo, Minister of Korea Forest Service, Republic of Korea: It is with deep sadness that I would like to offer to you, on behalf of the United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and myself our sincere condolences for the death of Dr. Eun-ho Im. Dr. Im worked tirelessly for the preparation and successful organisation of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties held in your country last October. He also played an instrumental role in promoting the UNCCD in the Republic of Korea. His passing away is a tragic loss for the Republic of Korea and the Asia Region as a whole. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very sad moment. May Dr. Im rest in peace. Luc Gnacadja Executive Secretary
New York, United States, 31 January 2012 – On 24th January 2012, Miss Universe 2011, Leila Lopes, Drylands Ambassador visited the New York Liaison Office of the UNCCD. She was accompanied by Brenda C. Mendoza, Director, Public Relations from the Miss Universe Organisation. This is the first visit by Miss Universe to the UNCCD secretariat since her appointment as Drylands Ambassador. She was received by the officer in charge Ms. Nandhini Iyer Krishna who is also a joint staff of the UNCCD and CBD. Miss Universe received a detailed briefing on the work of the UNCCD Convention secretariat, and the importance of issues relating to Drought, Land Degradation and Desertification as part of her assumption of her duties as Drylands Ambassador. Miss Lopes is the first Miss Universe to be appointed as Drylands Ambassador and in that capacity will take a lead in raising international awareness about desertification, land degradation and drought, causes and possible solutions. Miss Lopes comes from the African region where desertification, is the foremost environmental challenge. Part of her home country of Angola is threatened by desertification. She hopes to advance the cause by promoting a land degradation neutral world. By ensuring that land we lose due to degradation is compensated by the land we reclaim or improve we can make sure that we are good stewards of the land for future generations for whom we hold it in trust.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 13 January 2012 – The United Nations has released the draft document that will be negotiated by governments and adopted by the heads of state and government during the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 20-22 June 2012. The 20-page document, which will serve as a decision-making framework, highlights national and international political determination to pursue a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. The zero draft, as it is referred to, calls for enhanced support by the international community in the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The document recognizes the economic and social significance of land and its impact on growth, food security and poverty eradication. It highlights the intensity of land degradation and desertification on most of Africa’s arable land as a serious challenge to sustainable development. The zero draft also highlights the need to support partnerships and initiatives for the safeguarding of soil resources and scientific studies aimed at raising global awareness of the economic benefits of sustainable land management. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes that the UNCSD, popularly known as Rio Plus 20 (Rio+20), would result in an agreement with Sustainable Development Goals. The UNCCD has called for Rio+20 to put an end to the unrelenting pace of land degradation by agreeing on a goal and target. The draft also outlines the urgent need for the engagement of all major stakeholders – civil society, governments and private sector – in order to eradicate poverty, achieve food security, guarantee effective water and energy management, public health, inclusive and equitable growth. Notes to Editors: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio+20, will take place in Brazil on 20-22 June 2012. It will mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. The Conference will result in a political document, which will renew political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and address new and emerging challenges.
Bonn, Germany, 25 January 2012 – The Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture of Cape Verde, Ms. Eva Ortet, visited the secretariat on 23 January 2012. During the exchange with the Executive Secretary the discussion focused on the significant efforts and successes achieved by the Rep. of Cape Verde in the areas of reforestation, land reclamation and the integrated management of scarce water resources. They also discussed preparatory activities at the Rio + 20 Summit (June 2012), and the possible role of the CPLP countries that are all facing desertification, land degradation and recurrent droughts.
25 January 2012, Bonn, Germany, 25 January 2012 – Hon. Dr. Haroun Kabadi, President of the National Assembly of Chad and recently elected Chair of the Steering Committee of the UNCCD Parliamentarian Forum was joined by Madame Khadidja Hassaballah and Mr. Keda Ballah, Members of the National Assembly for in-depth discussions with Luc Gnacadja at the UNCCD secretariat. The consultation covered practical measures needed to follow up on the declaration made by the 9th Parliamentarian Round Table, held at COP 10 in Changwon; upcoming activities of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentarian Forum; the role of the UNCCD at UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) and operationalization of the Convention in Chad.
Bonn, Germany, 20 December 2011 – The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has recently announced the Land for Life Award, with a fund of up to 100,000 USD, to recognize excellence in sustainable land management, particularly efforts that promote the natural health and productivity of the earth's soils. The deadline for applications is 29 February 2012. The award will go to outstanding initiatives which reduce land degradation through sustainable land management, or are outstanding examples of political leadership, policy, business, advocacy campaigns or scientific research. With the launch of the award, the UNCCD secretariat and partners aim to raise awareness about the benefits of soil preservation, and that restoring degraded land is a key solution to some of the pressing problems of our time, such as hunger and global climate change. "Globally, two billion hectares of degraded forest and agricultural land offers opportunity for restoration and investment, and that does not include the potential in some dry areas such as the Sahel," said Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, when launching the award. "Turning this degraded land into productive land will require action from people at all levels, from business and policy makers, to community groups and farmers. By rewarding success stories and best practices through the Land for Life Award, we aim to celebrate and bring visibility to these unsung 21st Century heroes, to contribute towards the scaling up of their work and hopefully generate interest among others to support their initiatives. We also want to cultivate a culture of learning new and innovative ways to restore degraded land. Only then can we hope to achieve a land degradation neutral world." A jury of ten prominent leaders from the field of sustainable land management will select the award winners and determine the prize money allocation. Representing civil society, the jury includes: Dr. Vandana Shiva, a renowned seed sovereignty activist and founder Nevdanya International in India; Professor Mick Dodson, a prominent indigenous land rights advocate and the 2009 Australian of the Year; and Ms. Yolanda Kakabadse, President of WWF International and former Minister of the Environment in Ecuador. From the field of academia and science, the jury includes: Dr. Camilla Toulmin, Director, International Institute for Sustainable Development in the UK; Dr. Mary Seely, Founder, Desert Research Foundation of Namibia, and Dr. Dennis Garrity, UNCCD Drylands Ambassador and former Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre in Kenya. Dr. Joachim von Braun, Director of the Center for Development Research in Germany, and Dr. Naomi Kipuri, a Masaai anthropologist and Executive Director of the Arid Lands Institute in Kenya, will also serve on the jury. From the inter-governmental side, the jury will include the Minister of the Korea Forest Service, Dr. Don Koo Lee, who is also currently the president of the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the UNCCD, and Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. The winners will be announced on the World Day to Combat Desertification on 17 June 2012, and honoured at the 11th session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention. The 2012 Land for Life award is a collaboration between the UNCCD and the Korea Forest Service, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Global Environment Facility, International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Qatar National Food Security Programme, the Business Forum in Korea and the Elion Resources Group, China. About the UNCCD Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. Established in 1994, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment, development and the promotion of healthy soils. The Convention's 194 signatory Parties work to alleviate poverty in the drylands, maintain and restore the land's productivity, and mitigate the effects of drought. For more information, please visit the Land for Life web page. Or contact: Emily Davila Email: L4L@unccd.int Tel: +49 (0) 228 815 2831