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The importance of sustainable land management (SLM) in fighting sand and dust storms (SDS) has been recognized by the International Conference on Combating SDS that took place in Tehran on 3-5 July 2017. Ministers and other high-level officials have called for collective response to the rising environmental challenge of SDS. They have agreed that unsustainable land management is among leading factors contributing to SDS, which pose a major obstacle to the development in affected countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. Promoting SLM can minimize the risk of future storms and reduce their impact on human health, agriculture, food security, infrastructure and the environment in rural and urban areas and across a broad range of ecosystems that includes croplands, rangelands, wetlands and deserts. Creating collaborative risk reduction programmes, sharing early warning information and developing joint mitigation measures are also among key areas where countries should cooperate to effectively combat SDS. The Conference was hosted by the Department of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran in cooperation with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, UN Environment, UN Development Programme and other UN agencies. You can find more information on the conference by following this link. Visit the UNCCD Knowledge Hub to find information on best practices in sustainable land management.

Registration for the thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) hosted by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from 6-16 September 2017 in Ordos, is open. Media visas take 30 days to process. Therefore, online pre-registration will take place from 1 July to 25 August 2017. Once the request for online registration has been cleared, the UNCCD secretariat will validate and send a confirmation of pre-registration to COP 13 to the participants by e-mail. Detailed information about accreditation, participation or other media-related inquiries is available on the UNCCD COP13 website: /convention/conference-parties-cop/cop13-towards-new-generation L’INSCRIPTION DES MEDIAS POUR LA COP13 L’inscription pour la treizième session de la Conférence des Parties (COP13) à la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (CNULCD) aura lieu du 6 au 16 septembre 2017, à Ordos, en République Populaire de Chine est maintenant ouvert. Le processus de visas prend au moins 30 jours. Etant donné les exigences concernant les entrées sur le territoire chinois, l'inscription en ligne pour les représentants des médias sera disponible du 1 juillet au 25 août 2017. Une fois l’inscription acceptée, celle-ci sera validée par le secrétariat par une lettre de confirmation d’inscription, envoyée par courrier électronique aux participants. Plus d'informations à propos de la participation ou d'autres requêtes liées aux médias sont disponibles sur le site du secrétariat: /convention/conference-parties-cop/cop13-towards-new-generation LA INSCRIPCIÓN DE LOS MEDIOS PARA LA COP13 La invitación para registrarse en el decimotercer período de sesiones de la Conferencia de las Partes (COP13) de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) organizada en Ordos por el Gobierno de la República Popular China (6-16 septiembre) ha sido abierta. Los visados de los medios de comunicación tardan 30 días en procesarse. A la luz del proceso de solicitud de visados, la pre-inscripción online tendrá lugar del 1 de julio al 25 de agosto de 2017. Una vez que se haya aprobado la solicitud de registro online, la secretaría de la CNULD validará y enviará una confirmación sobre la pre-inscripción de los participantes a la COP 13 por correo electrónico. Información más detallada acerca de la participación o de otras cuestiones relacionadas con los medios se encuentra disponible en la siguiente página web: /convention/conference-parties-cop/cop13-towards-new-generation

Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to responsible investing, has entered into negotiations with Althelia Ecosphere to become the European leader in natural capital investing The projected acquisition of Althelia Ecosphere (“Althelia”) by Mirova is intended to create a European platform dedicated to natural capital investing and give investors access to investment solutions addressing major global environmental challenges such as climate change, protection of landscapes, biodiversity, soil and marine resources. This would be a great addition to Mirova's existing project finance capabilities as well as the environmental, social, and supply chain experts already involved in the LDN Fund project. Since 2015 and as part of its commitment to increase financing for the Sustainable Development Goals, Mirova has been working alongside the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to launch the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund project, a public-private vehicle that intends to invest in profit-generating sustainable land management and restoration projects worldwide. Read press release by Mirova/Natixis/Althelia Ecosphere

65 cartoons from 42 cartoonist from 13 countries have been received on the occasion of the International press cartoon contest organized in parallel to Désertif'actions 2017 Summit. The jury composed of personalities from media, artistic and graphic jobs, cartoonists and organizers, selected 33 cartoons which will be exhibited at Strasbourg’s city hall from the 26th to the 30th of June 2017. The jury designated three winners and a special jury distinction : • First prize: « Land, water, colours ». Manfruelli BATTI, alias BATTI, France • Second prize ex-aequo : « Still life » Guy BADEAUX, Canada • Second prize ex-aequo : « A new Angelus » Robert ROUSSO, France • Special jury prize, « Young distinction » : « Ultimate borders » Noha BAFOIL, France  More information on www.desertif-actions.fr  Information on the jury composition ·         Phil Umbdenstock (cartoonist and president of the jury) ·         United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification : Marcos Montoiro ·         Representative of the city of Strasbourg : Julien Chiappone Lucchesi ·         CARI representative and initiator of Desertif’actions : Patrice Burger ·         Climate Chance representative : Bernard Soulage ·         Cartoonists networks : Pierre Ballouhey (Cartoonists French Federation) ·         Strasbourg arts and culture representatives : Thérèse Willer (Tomi Ungerer Museum) and Jean Charles Andrieu de Lewis (HEAR) ·         Written press : Dominique Jung (Dernières nouvelles d’Alsace)

The global observance of the World Day to Combat Desertification took place on Thursday, 15 June 2017 at the Centre des Conférences de Ouaga 2000, in Ouagadogou, Burkina Faso. Over 400 international and local participants attended the ceremonies including Presidents, ministers and high-ranking officials, and Cardinal and Archbishop of Ouagadougou.  This was the first time high-ranking officials drawn from Africa’s foreign affairs, environment and interior ministries have met jointly to find solutions to Africa’s growing challenge of rural youth unemployment that is driving distress migration and radicalization of disillusioned young men. Read more Global Observance in Burkina Faso 2017 World Day to Combat Desertification   For media Press release (16 June 2017) English   French   Spanish Media advisory English  French Spanish Press release (9 February 2017) English  French  Spanish CALL FOR ACTION/ L'APPEL A l'ACTION DE OUAGADOUGOU English  French  Photos courtesy of NEPAD/Teko Nhlapo

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s Land for Life Award is dedicated to recognizing individuals, groups, organizations and businesses for their outstanding work on conserving and protecting land resources to achieve sustainable developmental goals. The winners of 2017 Land for Life Award were announced at World Day to Combat Desertification Global Observance event on 15 June in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.  Approximately 400 participants attended the event hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change.   This year, with the theme “Land and Human Security”, Watershed Organization Trust (India) and UN Environment and Practical Action Sudan (South Sudan) were awarded the 2017 Land for Life Award. The winners have demonstrated tangible evidence of transforming lives of communities who suffered from the impacts of degraded land. At the same occasion, Ms. Yingzhen Pan, the Director General of National Bureau to Combat Desertification of State Forestry Administration was given the 2017 Land for Life China Award for the recognition of her achievement in combating desertification and restoring the Three North Regions Shelterbelts for over 30 years. Ms. Florencia Escudero Fonseca received a special mention for her inspiring leadership and dedicated support to communities to restore degraded land in Spain. The Award giving ceremony will take place during the 6th Kubuqi International Desert Forum in Ordos, China, which is scheduled from 28-30 July 2017. For mores stories and details about winners, see the announcement.