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El 17 de septiembre, en Luxemburgo, el viceprimer ministro y ministro de Asuntos Exteriores y Europeos, Cooperación y Acción Humanitaria, Xavier Bettel, el ministro de Finanzas, Gilles Roth, y Yasmine Fouad, secretaria ejecutiva de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD), firmaron un acuerdo por el que se establece el Fondo de Inversión para la Resiliencia ante la Sequía (DRIF). Como primer fondo creado en el marco del Fondo de Impacto Terrestre de Luxemburgo (LEIF), el nuevo Fondo de Inversión para la Resiliencia a la Sequía supone un gran paso adelante en materia de financiación sostenible. Con un objetivo de 400 millones de dólares, el fondo respaldará la agricultura sostenible, mejorará el acceso al agua y promoverá soluciones basadas en la naturaleza. Luxemburgo aportará dos millones de euros como financiación inicial, reafirmando su compromiso con la cooperación mundial y la inversión verde. Una crisis mundial que no se puede ignorar Hasta el 40% de la tierra del mundo ya está degradada, lo que amenaza la alimentación, el agua y los medios de vida de casi la mitad de la humanidad. Esta degradación se ve agravada por la sequía, un desastre silencioso, pero cada vez más grave que ya le cuesta a la economía mundial más de 307.000 millones de dólares al año, lo que alimenta el hambre, la migración forzosa y el aumento de las desigualdades.  La CNULD, establecida en 1994, es el único tratado internacional jurídicamente vinculante centrado en la gestión sostenible de tierras. Luxemburgo ratificó la Convención en 1997 y, con la puesta en marcha del DRIF, reafirma su liderazgo en la respuesta mundial a la degradación de tierras y la sequía. Aprovechar el impulso mundial La COP16 de la CNULD, que Riad acogió en diciembre de 2024, marcó un punto de inflexión importante para la resiliencia frente a la sequía: se comprometieron más de 12.000 millones de dólares a través de la Alianza Mundial de Riad para la Resiliencia frente a la Sequía con el fin de apoyar a los países vulnerables. Sin embargo, el sector privado sigue representando solo el 6% de la financiación mundial en este ámbito. El DRIF está diseñado para salvar esa brecha ofreciendo vías estructuradas de inversión de impacto. Respaldado por datos contrastados —cada dólar invertido en soluciones basadas en la naturaleza contra la sequía puede generar un rendimiento de hasta 27 dólares—, el Fondo tiene como objetivo facilitar inversiones escalables, rentables y sostenibles para las comunidades propensas a la sequía.  “La creación de este fondo no es solo una innovación financiera, es un salvavidas para las comunidades que se encuentran en primera línea de la sequía”, afirmó Yasmine Fouad, secretaria ejecutiva de la CNULD. “Demuestra lo que se puede conseguir cuando los gobiernos, el sistema de las Naciones Unidas y el sector privado se unen en torno a una visión común: un futuro más resiliente para las personas y el planeta”. El liderazgo de Luxemburgo en finanzas sostenibles El apoyo de Luxemburgo al DRIF refuerza su papel como pionero en finanzas sostenibles y de impacto. Con esta iniciativa, Luxemburgo contribuye a abrir un nuevo capítulo en la cooperación internacional en materia de resiliencia a la sequía; un capítulo en el que el liderazgo público y la inversión privada unen sus fuerzas para proteger los medios de vida, restaurar la tierra y garantizar el agua para las generaciones futuras. 

Once known as China’s “Sea of Death” for its shifting dunes and frequent sandstorms, the Kubuqi Desert has changed dramatically over the past three decades. This week, that progress provided the backdrop for the 10th Kubuqi International Desert Forum in Ordos, Inner Mongolia. The gathering, co-organized by the UNCCD and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), alongside China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Government, brought together international organizations, government officials, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs to exchange solutions for land restoration under the theme “Combat Desertification Scientifically and Promote Green Development.” A global challenge that cannot wait Across the globe, land degradation is accelerating worldwide. Today, 40 per cent of the world’s land is already degraded, directly affecting nearly half of humanity. Every year, at least 100 million hectares of healthy land are lost-an area the size of Egypt-driven by unsustainable land use and climate change. The economic impact is severe: nearly USD 900 billion is lost annually to desertification, land degradation and drought. Droughts, already more frequent and intense, are now up by one third since 2000, causing more than USD 300 billion in losses each year. By 2050, three out of four people on Earth are expected to be affected. Yet solutions exist. UNCCD data shows that every dollar invested in land restoration can generate up to USD 27 in returns, strengthening food systems, creating jobs and helping communities withstand climate shocks. From “Sea of Death” to productive land Against this backdrop, the Kubuqi Desert shows what is possible when science, policy and community action come together. In recent years, restoration has expanded rapidly across the dunes. Forests and vegetation now cover areas that once produced only sand and dust. More than half a million hectares have been restored, reducing sandstorms, stabilizing soils and preventing huge volumes of sediment from flowing into the Yellow River. Bringing renewable energy into restoration made a real difference. Solar farms established on degraded land not only generate clean power but also create conditions for vegetation to grow. This approach—known as “PV + Desertification Control”—has created new jobs, raised household incomes and demonstrated that tackling land degradation can also drive prosperity. In parts of Inner Mongolia, farmers now earn much of their income from forestry and fruit grown on once-barren land — proof that healthy ecosystems can support sustainable economies.  When we restore our land, we restore human dignity In her video message to the Forum, UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad underlined that the lessons of Kubuqi extend far beyond China, showing how land restoration can transform both ecosystems and societies:  “The Kubuqi model teaches us a fundamental truth: When we restore our land, we restore human dignity. It means jobs, over one hundred thousand of them. It means new industries that sustain families. It means communities that no longer see the desert as an adversary but as a partner in their future. And this transformation was not the work of one sector alone. It was a collective work — of government, business, and communities standing shoulder to shoulder, working hand in hand.” Shared lessons, shared future The Forum was not only about Inner Mongolia. Delegates from regions severely affected by desertification, from Mongolia to the Sahel, shared their own efforts and highlighted how cooperation is essential. Mongolia’s forestry officials described their national campaign to plant one billion trees, while voices from Africa and Latin America pointed to the value of exchanging technologies and practices — from fire monitoring to sustainable pastoralism. The Forum also featured voices from the UNCCD Land Heroes, which showcases young leaders advancing land restoration and sustainable livelihoods worldwide. Among them was Rokiatou Traoré, a Malian entrepreneur who founded Herou Alliance to empower women and youth through sustainable Moringa production. She highlighted the power of collective action: “China has proven to the world that, with political commitment and community engagement, we can turn a desert into an oasis. Beyond preserving our environment, growing trees can increase GDP and provide income for communities. Science and technology are our best allies to restore degraded land and improve our economies.” Takudzwa Ashley Mlambo of Zimbabwe, Founder and Head of Agroforestry and Innovation at Forestry & Citrus Research (FACIR), where he leads The Greater Green Project, stressed the importance of technology: “The Forum has shown me innovative drone, satellite and IoT solutions for restoring degraded land, alongside models that integrate photovoltaic systems with plants and animals. If scaled to Sub-Saharan Africa, I believe we can achieve our Land Degradation Neutrality goals.” Linking local success to global goals For UNCCD, the experience in Kubuqi offers lessons with global relevance. Governments have pledged to restore one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, with nearly half of these commitments made under the Convention’s framework. Meeting this goal will require mobilizing at least USD one billion per day over the next five years, but the gains in resilience, food security and livelihoods make it clear this investment is worth it. Local communities, farmers and herders have played a strong role in restoration—from planting vegetation and leading cooperatives to running small businesses. Their efforts demonstrate how recovery of the land can also bring social and economic benefits.  As the Forum concludes, its message is clear: land can be restored, and when it is, both people and nature benefit. 

The leaders of the three Rio Conventions recently met in Bonn to chart the next stage of their collaboration. Yasmine Fouad, the new UNCCD Executive Secretary, chaired the meeting of the Joint Liaison Group, welcoming her counterparts Simon Stiell of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Astrid Schomaker of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Together, they discussed priority actions for 2025–2026 and pledged to strengthen cooperation to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. One immediate outcome of the meeting is the launch of the Rio Synergies platform, unveiled to showcase how the three conventions are stepping up joint action. The new website highlights the benefits of integrated approaches and provides a window into how countries, communities and institutions can work across climate, biodiversity and land agendas.Some 30 years ago, at the Rio Earth Summit, the world agreed on three landmark treaties to protect the planet: the UNCCD, the CBD and the UNFCCC. Each tackles a different piece of the environmental puzzle—but all share one truth: climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are deeply connected, and solving one equals tackling them together.The rationale for closer cooperation is clear: Humanity is on track to reach ten billion people by 2050, just as nature’s life-support systems are reaching breaking point. Almost one million species are at risk of extinction. Three-quarters of the planet’s land has been transformed by human activity. And if greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, the world is set to overshoot the 1.5°C warming limit within decades.At the heart of cooperation is a shared conviction: when climate, land and biodiversity goals are pursued together, the results are stronger, more cost-effective and longer lasting. By linking their mandates, the Rio conventions are committed to turning overlapping challenges into shared opportunities—delivering solutions that benefit people, economies and ecosystems alike.The new platform demonstrates how this can work in practice. It showcases key areas for action, such as sustainable land use planning, nature-positive food production, renewable energy transition and gender-responsive action. It also highlights country case studies where integrated projects are already making a difference: Rwanda’s nationwide restoration strategy combining reforestation, agroforestry and land recovery; Central Asia’s efforts to restore vast degraded steppes as carbon sinks; and Panama’s “Nature Pledge,” which unites its climate, biodiversity and land commitments under a single national framework, among others.The Rio synergies approach is centered around three pillars. First is country support: helping governments strengthen policies, develop integrated plans and build negotiation skills through joint capacity-building. Second is coherence and complementarity: aligning work on shared themes like food systems, forests and water, and engaging Indigenous Peoples and youth. Third is outreach and visibility: speaking with one voice at global events, promoting a joint narrative and sharing inspiring examples of synergy in action.As the three Executive Secretaries agreed, climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are not separate challenges—they are different symptoms of one planetary crisis. By strengthening synergies, the Rio Conventions aim to help humanity heal its relationship with nature and build a more resilient, sustainable future for all. The Rio journey now leads to 2026 — the triple COP year when all three conventions will hold their governing conferences— a pivotal convergence to align national commitments, showcase joint solutions and generate the political momentum needed to translate promises into action on the ground.Join the Rio journey at https://rioconventions.org

La 23.ª reunión del Comité de Examen de la Aplicación de la Convención (CRIC23) se celebrará en Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, del 1 al 5 de diciembre de 2025 El emblema de la CRIC23 destaca el Pacto de Panamá con la Naturaleza, que aúna sus compromisos sobre tierra, clima y biodiversidad Bonn/Ciudad de Panamá, 15 de septiembre de 2025 – Representantes de 196 países y de la Unión Europea se reunirán en Panamá del 1 al 5 de diciembre de 2025 para examinar sus esfuerzos contra la desertificación, la degradación de las tierras y la sequía como Partes del único tratado mundial jurídicamente vinculante en la materia, una de las tres Convenciones de Río, junto con las de biodiversidad y clima. La 23.ª sesión del Comité de Examen de la Aplicación de la Convención (CRIC 23) para la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) reunirá a unos 500 delegados de gobiernos, la sociedad civil y el mundo académico para evaluar los avances en la consecución de los objetivos del tratado. Panamá, signatario de la CNULD desde 1996, se ha comprometido a alcanzar la neutralidad en la degradación de las tierras para 2030, ha identificado 31 zonas críticas y está impulsando programas de reforestación y adaptación en el Corredor, lo que subraya su papel como anfitrión regional. En 2023, el país se enfrentó al año más seco de su historia, cuando la escasez de agua interrumpió el tráfico a través del Canal de Panamá y mostró cómo una sequía localizada puede tener consecuencias a nivel mundial. El Ministro de Medio Ambiente de Panamá, Juan Carlos Navarro, declar: “Nunca antes un país había albergado en un mismo año a las tres grandes convenciones ambientales de Naciones Unidas: acción climática, biodiversidad, y desertificación y gestión sostenible de tierras. Con ello, Panamá reitera su compromiso con la conservación de la naturaleza y el desarrollo sostenible,  así como su llamado a gestionar juntos estos tres pilares de manera integral para enfrentar la crisis planetaria y construir un futuro resiliente para nuestras comunidades”. La secretaria ejecutiva de la CNULD, Yasmine Fouad, dijo: “Las graves sequías y la pérdida de tierras fértiles ya están afectando a la producción de alimentos y energía, desarraigando a las comunidades rurales y amenazando los medios de vida de millones de personas. Ello es especialmente evidente en América Latina y el Caribe, donde la degradación afecta a por lo menos el 20% de la tierra. Al acoger la CRIC23, Panamá se sitúa en el centro de la respuesta colectiva, que demuestra con gestos como su compromiso nacional con la naturaleza y con la iniciativa regional del Corredor Seco. Asimismo, Panamá impulsa los esfuerzos – necesarios y urgentes – para aumentar la resiliencia a la sequía y restaurar tierras en todo el mundo”.  Esta CRIC también pondrá un énfasis especial en la perspectiva de género. Las mujeres son de las más afectadas por la degradación de la tierra, pues enfrentan a diario las consecuencias de los suelos degradados y la sequía, al tiempo que siguen estando en la primera línea para sostener a las familias y garantizar alimentos.  Datos recientes de la CNULD muestran por qué urge tomar medidas: el mundo está perdiendo casi 100 millones de hectáreas de tierra sana al año y la aridez ha aumentado en más del 70 % de la superficie terrestre en los últimos 30 años, lo que socava la capacidad del planeta para sostener una población cada vez mayor. El mundo necesita 1000 millones de dólares diarios desde ahora hasta 2030 para cumplir los objetivos mundiales de restauración de tierras y combatir la desertificación y la sequía, una fracción de lo que se destina a incentivos perversos e inversiones dañinas.  La CRIC23 se celebrará en el Centro de Convenciones de Panamá, en la ciudad de Panamá. Las partes examinarán los progresos realizados y formularán recomendaciones para alcanzar los objetivos mundiales de prevenir y revertir la degradación de las tierras y fomentar la resiliencia frente a la sequía para 2030. Además, la CRIC23 debatirá el marco estratégico para después de 2030 y reunirá a las principales partes interesadas, desde las mujeres y los jóvenes hasta los pueblos indígenas y las comunidades locales.  El logotipo de la CRIC23 se inspira en la flor del Espíritu Santo (Peristeria elata), la flor nacional de Panamá. En su centro, emerge el contorno de una paloma blanca en vuelo, símbolo universal de paz y unidad. Hoy en día, esta delicada flor se ve cada vez más amenazada por la desertificación de sus hábitats naturales, lo que subraya el imperativo de proteger la biodiversidad y restaurar nuestros suelos. El emblema del CRIC23 destaca además el Pacto de Panamá con la Naturaleza, que aúna los compromisos del país en materia de tierra, clima y biodiversidad. El logotipo también rinde homenaje al patrimonio natural y cultural de Panamá y refleja la determinación del país de construir un futuro resiliente, sostenible y en armonía con la naturaleza. Notas para los editores Se invita a los representantes de los medios de comunicación acreditados a asistir e informar sobre el CRIC23 y los eventos asociados.  El IISD proporcionará un resumen diario de los aspectos más destacados del CRIC23 en su Boletín de Negociaciones de la Tierra El calendario de eventos paralelos está disponible aquí: https://www.unccd.int/cric23/side-events Los recursos visuales sobre el CRIC23 y el enlace al Panel de Datos de la CNULD están disponibles aquí: https://trello.com/b/zq0kxtkK/unccd-cric23-panama-2025 La inscripción en línea para los representantes de los medios de comunicación estará disponible a partir del 15 de septiembre de 2025 aquí: https://indico.un.org/e/unccd-cric23 (haga clic en ‘Registro de medios’).   Para inscribirse, proporcione los siguientes documentos: Una fotografía reciente tamaño pasaporte;Una tarjeta de prensa válida;Una copia (páginas con fotografía y firma) del pasaporte nacional (para periodistas extranjeros) o del documento nacional de identidad (para solicitantes locales);Una carta de presentación en papel con membrete oficial del jefe de la oficina, la empresa de medios de comunicación o la editorial.Los periodistas autónomos deben presentar una carta de la organización de medios de comunicación que los asigna para cubrir la conferencia. Después de esta fecha, el registro in situ se realizará en el Centro de Acreditación y Registro del Centro de Convenciones de Panamá (Calle General Juan D. Perón, Amador, Ciudad de Panamá) durante el horario oficial de registro. Los periodistas que se inscriban en línea podrán recoger su acreditación en el Centro de Convenciones de Panamá previa presentación de una tarjeta de prensa válida y un documento de identidad. Para obtener más información sobre la normativa que rige las solicitudes de visado y la introducción de material periodístico en Panamá, consulte: https://es.tourismpanama.com/planea-tus-vacaciones/requisitos-de-viaje/ Para consultas sobre la acreditación de los medios de comunicación o la cobertura del evento, póngase en contacto con: press@unccd.int En el lugar de celebración de la conferencia habrá un espacio de trabajo dedicado a la prensa y los medios de comunicación. En el sitio web de la CNULD se podrá encontrar información adicional y actualizaciones para los medios de comunicación sobre la Convención y el CRIC 23: https://www.unccd.int/cric23 Acerca de la CNULD La Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) es la visión y la voz global para las tierras. Unimos a gobiernos, científicos, responsables políticos, el sector privado y las comunidades en torno a una visión compartida y una acción global para restaurar y gestionar la tierra del mundo en aras de la sostenibilidad de la humanidad y el planeta. Mucho más que un tratado internacional firmado por 197 Partes, la CNULD es un compromiso multilateral para mitigar los impactos actuales de la degradación de la tierra y promover la gestión sostenible de tierras para proporcionar alimentos, agua, refugio y oportunidades económicas a todas las personas de manera equitativa e inclusiva.  

In the past decade, the world has made a historic push to prepare for drought before it strikes, unlocking solutions in policy, practice, and finance. Humanity has never been better equipped to face this growing challenge. The next step, experts say, is using all the available knowledge and expertise to build drought resilience for everyone, everywhere. At World Water Week, held in Stockholm from 24 to 28 August, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), co-convened leading experts to highlight success cases and new initiatives for drought resilience.Here are five takeaways from the session ‘Accelerating Drought Resilience in a Changing Climate:’Systemic measures for a systemic riskFar from only affecting agriculture, drought can have long-lasting impacts on all sectors of society, the economy and ecosystems —-uprooting people from their lands, stunting the development of entire generations, and causing GDPs to plummet by up to 10 per cent. Drought is a systemic risk, but too often, it is addressed with piecemeal measures.“Water crosses so many boundaries as it moves from the tops of mountains through ecosystems towards the ocean: administrative, legal, cultural, ecological boundaries,” said Global Director of Freshwater Outcomes at TNC Nicole Silk. “That is why we need to work across systems, sectors, borders, and scales to build drought resilience”.In that spirit, the nonprofit is supporting the implementation of nature-based solutions across entire watersheds in collaboration with communities, the private sector, and governments. Protecting key ecological functions is a nature-based solution, as are financial innovations.One example is TNC's work in the Tana River in Kenya, which supplies 95% of the water for Nairobi’s 4 million residents, feeds one of the country’s main agricultural areas, and provides half of the country’s hydropower output. In the past 50 years, the substitution of agricultural fields for forests and wetlands had reduced the ability of the land to store runoff water and hold the soil, compromising the water security of millions.Enter the Upper Tana-Nairobi Water Fund. The mechanism, which TNC kickstarted in 2015 as is now an independent Kenyan-registered entity, has public and private donors and major water consumers downstream contribute resources to support water and soil conservation measures upstream, which is improving water quality and supply.No-regret investments Protecting ecosystems, managing land and water resources sustainably, and restoring degraded land are some of the most effective and sustainable ways of building drought resilience. But the benefits of nature-based solutions go way beyond drought.Every dollar invested in nature-based solutions (NbS) can generate up to US$27 in improved ecosystem services and livelihoods —-a no-regret investment, according to a recent report launched at UNCCD COP16 and as evidenced by the Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative.“More intense and frequent droughts are the new normal,” said Senior Policy Officer at BMZ Mario Lootz-Petersen. “Our goal is to make nature-based solutions a new normal, as well. The evidence and the tools are definitely there.” For the expert, one of the keys is continuing to build robust business cases and models around sustainable land and water management with a view to scaling up the many successful initiatives around the world.Tailored approaches While the pillars of drought resilience are universal, each context requires its own tailored solutions. Hence the importance of adapting drought resilience approaches to different realities.“A key question is how we can localize drought resilience solutions such as climate-smart agriculture, drought insurance, and water-storage innovation,” said Giriraj Amarnath, Principal Researcher on Disaster Risk Management and Climate Resilience at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).Through the Drought Action Catalyst, experts, decision-makers, and communities can come together to co-design and scale solutions for drought. The IWMI-led platform, launched at UNCCD COP16, also promotes South-South learning; an integrated action across sectors like agriculture, health, and infrastructure, and even an AI-based chatbot to help farmers tackle drought.From policies to practice With support from UNCCD, more than 70 countries have put in place national plans to manage drought risk, up from three only a decade ago. In parallel, the convention is hosting two major initiatives on drought resilience and is collaborating with academic, research and civil society organizations to bridge policy and practice.One of the UNCCD-hosted initiatives is the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), which is building political momentum and developing tools to help countries anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to drought —for example, the International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO). The other is the Riyadh Drought Resilience Partnership (RDRP), which will financially support 74 vulnerable countries in implementing their national drought plans from early 2026, as explained by Policy Officer with the UNCCD Daniel Tsegai. The idea is to invest in people, land, and ecosystems today, so that communities can thrive tomorrow.Additionally, the Convention and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) have launched a series of regional and global  Communities of Learning and Practice (CLP) —an agora where practitioners, decision-makers and scientists can learn from each other, ask for advice, and share new developments on drought-related matters.“I cannot overstate how important peer-to-peer learning is when it comes to accelerating drought action on the ground,” said Tsegai, who stressed the importance of sustainable land and water management. “Together, we can go further, faster —and the CLPs provide a safe space to do just that.”Beyond early warningIn Africa, UNCCD teamed up with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) —an IDRA partner— and the National Drought Mitigation Center/ University of Nebraska-Lincoln (NDMC/UNL) to create a drought impact tracker for countries in the region. The tool looks to empower farmers to report on drought signs and impacts using their phones, contributing to improve drought management.A project led by the GWP is now integrating the impact tracker into efforts to improve early warning systems in Eastern Africa. For GWP specialist Anjali Lohani, the move shows the importance of integrating existing tools and insights, instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.“So much knowledge already exists, so a priority is to make it available and accessible to those who need it,” said Lohani, who also noted the importance of building the capacity of communities to act on early warning messages. “Knowing that drought is coming is not enough; you need to have preparedness and response capabilities in place.”

Riyadh, 14 September 2025 – On her first official mission as UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad met with HE Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and COP16 President, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh."My visit to Riyadh was an opportunity to reinforce our shared commitment and emphasize the critical leadership of the Saudi COP16 Presidency as we work toward COP17," said Dr. Fouad. "To address the profound impacts of land degradation on food insecurity and economic uncertainty, we must act decisively and collectively. Our partnership is key to mobilizing political will and resources to restore land and hope."Discussions focused on shared priorities, including accelerating efforts toward drought resilience, transforming food systems, and creating new opportunities for private sector engagement in land restoration.On drought resilience, the meeting followed up on the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership at COP16, emphasizing the need for a proactive, global approach to preparedness and response, and for strong policies that support vulnerable communities and ecosystems.On food systems, the two leaders highlighted the crucial link between healthy land and sustainable food production. Building on the landmark COP16 decision on productive agricultural lands, they noted that agriculture remains a major driver of land degradation, deforestation, freshwater extraction and biodiversity loss worldwide, and must be transformed to become part of the solution.On private sector engagement, discussions built on the Business for Land Initiative endorsed by leaders at COP16, concentrating on strategies to unlock financing and innovation, reduce investment risks, and develop a compelling business case for companies to become key partners in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality, supporting sustainable agricultural practices and restoring land.Hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in December 2024, UNCCD COP16 was the largest and most inclusive in the Convention’s history, resulting in 39 decisions adopted by UNCCD’s 197 Parties."I am confident that through the Saudi COP16 Presidency and the upcoming Mongolian COP17 Presidency, we will be able to showcase that we can be united for land, united for people and united with hope," Ms. Fouad added.For more information, please contact: UNCCD Press Office press@unccd.int; About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.