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From the Arctic tundra to the steppe, signs of soil fatigue, erosion and degradation are emerging — and with them, a warning: no region is immune. Land degradation is no longer a remote concern confined to arid zones — it has become a shared, urgent global crisis. Countries with vastly different climates, geographies and land use systems are now grappling with its impacts. The evolving understanding that land degradation transcends climate zones, with implications for food security, climate resilience and economic stability across continents, has placed the issue firmly on the global agenda. Recognizing this, the UNCCD — the only legally binding international agreement focused on land and soil — is prioritizing collaboration across regions and sectors to successfully address these challenges. Russia, once perceived as largely outside the desertification-prone zones, is now facing land degradation on multiple fronts. Although deserts make up only a small fraction of its vast territory, 85 per cent of the country’s primary agricultural production relies on just 7 per cent of the land — land that is now showing signs of vulnerability. In 2023 alone, 1.1 million hectares were officially recognized as disturbed, with the area expanding by 42,000 hectares each year. Industrial activity is the dominant factor, with agriculture contributing 18 per cent of the degradation. These realities were the backdrop to a recent roundtable at the UN House in Moscow, convened to reflect on the outcomes of UNCCD’s 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) and their relevance for Russia. Organized by the Nature and People Foundation — the first and only accredited Russian observer to the Convention — the meeting brought together stakeholders from government, academia, civil society and international organizations.  One of the roundtable’s core messages echoed a major takeaway from COP16: land degradation must be addressed across all ecosystems, including boreal and Arctic regions. Russian scientists noted that methodologies initially designed to assess desertification in drylands are now being effectively adapted to northern environments. This evolving approach reflects the latest science, which connects soil health, climate resilience, biodiversity and food security in a synergetic framework. Representing the UNCCD, the Chief of Science, Technology and Innovation Mr. Johns Muleso Kharika noted that “the shift from dealing exclusively with desertification and drought to addressing the silent crisis that is land degradation in all ecosystems demonstrates a strategic evolution in addressing the problem. The Convention engages a wide range of countries who face land degradation caused by deforestation, urban sprawl, soil erosion and other polluting factors,” he added, emphasizing the role of science as a key factor in shaping  future-facing solutions. Nikolay Doronin, First Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Public Chamber Commission on Ecology, highlighted that in 2023, 1.1 million hectares of land were classified as damaged— 0.06 per cent of Russia’s area, exceeding the size of Cyprus or Lebanon and comparable to Qatar. This area is growing by 42,000 hectares annually, with 18 per cent located in agricultural zones. New technologies — including satellite monitoring, advanced planting materials and biotech-based restoration techniques — are becoming essential tools. Russia’s scientific institutions are contributing to emerging approaches in land monitoring, classification and adaptive restoration. But the impact of these efforts depends on national coordination, investment and political will. Private sector engagement was another theme, with businesses urged to take greater responsibility for the lands they affect — particularly given that many degraded areas fall within or near industrial zones. The message was clear: land degradation is not someone else’s problem — and reversing it demands responsibility and action from all sectors. Looking ahead to COP17 in Mongolia, Russian organizations are already preparing new inputs — including scientific findings and policy recommendations — drawing on their experience in land monitoring, scientific exchange and cross-sectoral planning. The roundtable made it clear that land degradation is no longer seen as a fringe issue. As the Convention’s agenda continues to evolve and as land degradation increasingly transcends national and ecological boundaries, one conclusion stands out: desertification is no longer a localized issue — and Russia is bringing both long-standing commitment and fresh scientific insight to the table. Land degradation knows no borders. And neither should the solutions. For more about the meeting, follow this link. Photo (c): naturepeople.org

Three independent scientists will soon have the opportunity to contribute to shaping the future direction of the UNCCD through participation in the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework (IWG-FSF).This expert group, established by Decision 4/COP.16, will support the development of key elements for a post-2030 strategic framework. Its work will include a review of the current UNCCD goals and indicators, ensuring future efforts to combat desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) are informed by robust, science-based evidence and aligned with global sustainability processes.The IWG-FSF will comprise regional representatives and technical experts, including three independent scientists selected through an open call launched on 5 June 2025, following the approval of the group’s terms of reference. The selection will be based on criteria outlined in the approved terms. Please note that the earlier call issued on 19 May 2025 has been withdrawn. Interested applicants are requested to resubmit their applications.An interim report on the group’s progress is expected at CRIC 23 in December 2025.

La 17 ª sesión de la Conferencia de las Partes (COP17) de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) se celebrará en  la capital de Mongolia, Ulán Bator, del 17 al 28 de agosto de 2026.  Este evento mundial reunirá a delegados de las 197 Partes, jefes de Estado, ministros, representantes de organizaciones internacionales, científicos, y miembros de la sociedad civil y el sector privado para forjar soluciones a los retos interconectados de la desertificación, la degradación de las tierras y la sequía. Mongolia, un vasto territorio de 1,56 millones de kilómetros cuadrados, se enfrenta a la degradación del 76,9 por ciento de sus tierras. Por ello, el país se ha convertido en una voz clave en los esfuerzos mundiales para combatir la desertificación y mejorar la resiliencia de la tierra, reconociendo la importancia de gestionar bien las tierras para responder a los retos ambientales.  Los ambiciosos planes de desarrollo de Mongolia, como sus movimientos nacionales y coordinados en materia de medio ambiente y agricultura, convierten al país en un anfitrión estratégico de la COP17 de la CNULD. La COP17 se celebrará coincidiendo con el Año Internacional de los Pastizales y los Pastores de las Naciones Unidas (IYRP 2026). Así pues, el evento enfatizará  importancia de  gestionar los pastizales de forma sostenible, teniendo en cuenta que de ellos depende la subsistencia de más de 1.000 millones de personas. La conferencia, que durará dos semanas, tendrá un segmento de alto nivel con diálogos ministeriales, además de foros con partes interesadas y debates temáticos sobre la integración de la ciencia y la política, innovación,  soluciones, tecnología y financiación. Se espera que el evento fomente una colaboración y acción decisivas en todos los sectores, promoviendo el manejo sostenible de tierras, la restauración de tierras y ecosistemas, y el avance en los objetivos de neutralidad en la degradación de tierras (LDN). Mongolia ya ha puesto en marcha una serie de iniciativas nacionales para impulsar la COP17 y sensibilizar al público y fomentar la participación de los jóvenes. Uno de los próximos eventos clave es el foro nacional Youth4Land, previsto para el 16 y 17 de junio de 2025 en la ciudad de Mandalgovi, provincia de Dundgovi, en conmemoración del Día de Lucha contra la Desertificación y la Sequía.   Este foro reunirá a un centenar jóvenes pastores, investigadores y responsables políticos para impulsar soluciones que aúnen los conocimientos tradicionales y los avances científicos. Esta iniciativa nacional se enmarca en los esfuerzos del país por aplicar los resultados de las anteriores COP de la CNULD y promover la participación inclusiva. El sólido programa de desarrollo y medio ambiente de Mongolia ---incluyendo el movimiento nacional ‘Miles de millones de árboles’, la iniciativa de desarrollo rural comunitario ‘Oro blanco’ y la iniciativa ‘Revolución alimentaria’--- sitúa al país como modelo de acción a nivel regional y mundial.   La celebración de la COP17 ofrecerá una oportunidad capital para elevar la cooperación internacional en materia de tierras, clima y biodiversidad. La conferencia permitirá concertar acciones frente a degradación de tierras y los retos climáticos en el mundo, consolidando la contribución de Mongolia a un futuro más sostenible y resiliente para todos. Para más información, póngase en contacto con: Oficina de prensa de la CNULD: press@unccd.int, https://www.unccd.int, @unccd Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Cambio Climático de Mongolia:  https://www.mecc.gov.mn Acerca de la CNULD La Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) es un acuerdo internacional sobre la buena gestión de tierras. Ayuda a las personas, las comunidades y los países a prosperar, hacer crecer las economías y asegurar alimentos, agua limpia y energía, creando las condiciones para la gestión sostenible de la tierra. Las 197 partes de la Convención han establecido sistemas para gestionar la sequía de manera rápida y eficaz. La gestión sostenible de las tierras, basada en políticas sólidas y en la ciencia, contribuye a integrar y a acelerar la consecución de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, fomenta la resiliencia al cambio climático y previene la pérdida de biodiversidad.  https://unccd.int Acerca del Año Internacional de los Pastizales y los Pastores  Por iniciativa de Mongolia, la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas ha designado 2026 como Año Internacional de los Pastizales y los Pastores (IYRP 2026) con el fin de mejorar la gestión de los pastizales y la vida de los pastores. Con esta declaración, se exhorta a los Estados miembros de las Naciones Unidas a invertir en la gestión sostenible de los pastizales, restaurar las tierras degradadas, mejorar el acceso de los pastores a los mercados, mejorar los servicios de extensión ganadera y colmar las lagunas de conocimientos sobre los pastizales y el pastoreo. El IYRP 2026 coincidirá con la COP17 de la CNULD, que se celebrará en Mongolia.  https://iyrp.info 

The United Nations Secretary-General, following consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), announced the appointment of Yasmine Fouad of Egypt as the next Executive Secretary of the UNCCD.  Serving as Minister of Environment of Egypt since 2018, Yasmine Fouad is an expert in environmental diplomacy with over 25 years of experience in environmental governance, global environmental themes and international climate diplomacy. She has a proven track record in designing and implementing institutional and systemic reforms for sustainable development. She holds a Ph.D. in Euro-Mediterranean Studies, Cairo University, and an M.Sc. in Environmental Science, Ain Shams University. She is fluent in English and Arabic.Welcoming the announcement made yesterday in New York, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Yasmine Fouad brings with her a wealth of experience and deep commitment to the environment and sustainable development. I warmly congratulate her on her appointment and have full confidence that she will bring new energy and vision to the role.”Ms. Fouad will be the fifth UNCCD Executive Secretary, succeeding Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania, Ms. Monique Barbut of France, Mr. Luc Gnacadja of Benin and Mr. Hama Arba Diallo of Burkina Faso. The Secretary-General expressed his deep gratitude to Mr. Thiaw "for his dedicated service and outstanding commitment to the Organization".Ms. Fouad will commence her first three-year term in office later this year.

Land degradation is a global crisis—one that is reshaping landscapes, livelihoods and futures. Each year, vast areas of productive lands are lost, affecting nearly half of humanity and costing the global economy an estimated US$878 billion. In Latin America, over 20 per cent of arable land is already degraded due to deforestation, overgrazing and other types of unsustainable land use. At the heart of the UNCCD is the belief that land is not only a natural resource—it is a source of life, identity and resilience. But while policies and data help define the challenge, it is the stories from the ground that bring its true scale and urgency into focus. Here is where ReVerde plays a crucial role. The documentary-style television programme gives voice to the people behind the headlines—those living with and responding to the impacts of land degradation. From Indigenous communities to small-scale farmers, from urban collectives to rural cooperatives, the programme captures the diverse efforts underway to restore ecosystems, protect local resources and create sustainable alternatives. Aligned with the UNCCD’s vision for sustainable land stewardship, ReVerde explores both the challenges and the solutions. It highlights community-led restoration, the importance of ancestral knowledge and the risks posed by unregulated development. Ahead of this year's Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June 2025, hosted in Bogotá, Colombia, with the theme— “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities.”— ReVerde stories remind us that restoration is not an abstract goal, but a daily effort being led by communities on the ground. The benefits are clear: land restoration can reverse more than US$1 trillion in agricultural productivity losses, strengthen food security for over a billion people and create millions of sustainable jobs. But to meet global targets, a significant funding gap—currently US$278 billion per year—must be closed. In telling the stories of land and those who care for it, ReVerde does more than inform—it inspires, builds understanding, sparks dialogue  and brings us closer to a future where land is restored, protected and valued for generations to come. In its next chapter, ReVerde turns its lens to the global observance of Desertification and Drought Day—continuing its mission to spotlight the people and places at the heart of our planet’s most pressing challenges. 

The UNCCD is forming an Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework (IWG-FSF), as mandated by Decision 4/COP.16. This group will develop proposals for a post-2030 strategy, including potential goals and targets, and will review existing indicators to enhance national reporting on progress. In line with the Convention’s commitment to inclusive decision-making, civil society organizations (CSOs) will play a vital role in this process. The IWG-FSF will bring together three representatives from each regional group and five technical experts, one of whom will be a CSO representative. The UNCCD Secretariat, in collaboration with the CSO Panel, will oversee the selection of the CSO representative through a call for expressions of interest, ensuring compliance with the Terms of Reference and representativity criteria established by the Conference of the Parties. CSOs have long been integral to the work of the Convention, contributing to policy development, implementation and monitoring. At the recent UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, CSOs actively engaged in discussions on land tenure, sustainable land stewardship and drought resilience, highlighting the importance of grassroots engagement in combating desertification and land degradation. The CSO Panel, elected by accredited organizations, serves as a liaison between civil society and the UNCCD, ensuring that diverse voices inform decision-making processes.  The IWG-FSF is expected to present an interim report on its progress at the 23rd session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23) in December 2025. This initiative underscores the UNCCD commitment to collaborative and inclusive approaches in addressing desertification, land degradation and drought. Photo: (c) IISD ENB/Anastasia Rodopoulou