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Bonn, Germany, 9 January 2014 – Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland, has accepted her designation as Drylands Ambassador of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for at least two years, to promote the shift towards sustainable land management practices globally and better livelihoods for rural women in the drylands. "Sustainable development, poverty eradication and the empowerment of women are very close to my heart. That is why I agreed to serve as Co-Chair of the UN Millennium Summit, later as Co-Chair of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainably, and now as Drylands Ambassador of the UNCCD," Halonen said when she accepted the designation. "Soil protection and the promotion of sustainable land management and agriculture are central tools for tackling poverty. I intend to promote sustainable land management at all levels, and its inclusion in the sustainable development goals and the post-2015 Development Agenda. This is crucial for effective poverty eradication," Halonen added. Scientists estimate that every year, at least 12 million hectares of productive land is lost through desertification and drought alone, and that over 24 billion tons of fertile soil is lost through erosion. Poor agricultural practices are a leading driver and have become more powerful as weather events get more erratic and extreme. Welcoming Drylands Ambassador Halonen, Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary said, “Her Excellency is a global leader on sustainable development and women’s empowerment. We are deeply honored by her willingness to put her vast experience and expertise at the disposal of the Convention.” “Effective cooperation is a pre-requisite for addressing land degradation and reducing poverty. And she is a strong advocate on how to resolve the widespread poverty and gender disparities that are tearing apart societies, especially among many of the climate-vulnerable land-dependent dryland peoples of the world. We will also listen carefully to her advice,” Barbut added. At the UN Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2012, world leaders agreed to strive towards a land-degradation neutral world with a view to halt the rapid loss of productive land. Former Presidents Halonen of Finland and Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, who also became a UNCCD Drylands Ambassador in October 2013, intend to promote the realization of this vision. Halonen was President of Finland from March 2000 to March 2012, and is Finland’s first female head of state. Social justice and the promotion of equality have remained core issues in her political career. UNCCD Drylands Ambassadors are designated by the Executive Secretary and serve for a two-year term with the possibility of renewal.

More partnerships and investment are needed to support the pan-African partnership to tackle desertification and land degradation Rome, Italy, 16 December 2013 – The Great Green Wall initiative is hosting an international forum to build new partnerships and accelerate progress in tackling one of this century’s defining development challenges – land degradation, desertification and drought. The forum will also take stock of the achievements and future challenges of the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative. The two-day event, organized by the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD (GM) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the auspices of the African Union Commission (AUC), is taking place on 16-17 December at FAO Headquarters in Rome. Since its adoption in 2007 by African Heads of State and Government, the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative has become Africa’s flagship initiative in tackling the detrimental social, economic and environmental impact of land degradation, desertification, drought and climate change. It is estimated that 83 per cent of rural people in Sub-Saharan Africa depend on the land for their livelihoods, but 40 per cent of Africa’s land resources are currently degraded. Poverty, hunger, unemployment, forced migration, conflict and security issues are just some of the many threats arising from this situation. In the Sahel, seasonal temperatures have risen between 1.5-2.0 degrees Celsius, making land and the local populations all the more vulnerable to weather events that have become more and more unpredictable and severe. Bold coordinated action and more investments in sustainable land management are needed to boost food production, help people adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects, support biodiversity, enhance businesses based on land resources and contribute to a green economy. Action on the ground A mosaic of natural resource management programmes underway in some of the countries, demonstrate the potential of sustainable land management to boost food security, improve community livelihoods and build the resilience of the land and the people to the changing climate. In southern Niger, for instance, farmers have rehabilitated over 5 million hectares of land, using a low cost land restoration technique called farmer-managed natural regeneration. This has boosted crop and livestock yields, as well the production of medicine and firewood. In Senegal, 27 000 hectares of degraded land were restored by the planting of 11 million trees. Part of this re-greened area is being converted into a community-based reserve for eco-tourism. A mechanized technology, known as the Vallerani-system inspired from traditional practices has helped to restore more than 50 000 hectares of agro-forestry systems in Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal. It is seeding native trees, shrubs and herbs, boosting the production of crops, gums and resins, and providing fodder for livestock. Breaking the cycle “The time has come to break the vicious cycle of crises in Africa's Sahel by building up the ability of rural communities to weather drought and other shocks, rather than merely helping them recover from disaster,” said Maria-Helena Semedo, FAO’s Deputy Director-General, at the opening of the event. "The Great Green Wall initiative is an opportunity to bring a coordinated and harmonized response to the issues of forced migration, food security and peace in Africa", Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), said to the representatives of African countries, international organizations, development banks, civil society and the private sector. With less than three per cent of Sub-Saharan Africa’s total cropland currently benefiting from sustainable land and water management, she warned that a major effort would be required to build the resilience of people in the region and the natural systems on which they so intimately depend. EU Development Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, added: “I am pleased to support the Green Wall initiative – it is very much in line with the EU’s own commitment to doing all we can to help people in those countries most affected by climate change to be able to better adapt to its impact in the future, as well as improving food security and making agriculture more sustainable.” Expanding partnership “Partnerships are crucial to support governments in mobilizing the necessary technical and financial resources for the implementation of their Great Green Wall plans,” said Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, Director for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission. New partnerships are needed to strengthen the global alliance that has emerged under the leadership of the African Union, he added, stressing the need for streamlined coordination among partners and the importance of close monitoring and evaluation of the impact of their actions. So far, the African Union – in cooperation with the European Union, FAO, the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew and the Walloon Region of Belgium – has mobilized more than €50 million in support of the Great Green Wall Initiative. The World Bank and Global Environment Facility are financing the US$1 billion Sahel and West Africa Program (SAWAP), active in 12 countries together with a regional hub project called Building Resilience through Innovation, Communication, and Knowledge Services (BRICKS), implemented by the Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Sahara and Sahel Observatory  (OSS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Great Green Wall initiative Endorsed in 2007 by African Heads of State and Government, the Great Green Wall for the Sahara and the Sahel Initiative aims to reverse land degradation and desertification in the Sahel and Sahara, whilst mitigating social, economic and environmental crises for the region’s most vulnerable people. The initiative brings together more than 20 African countries across North Africa, the Sahel and the Horn, international organizations, research institutes, civil society and grassroots organizations, supporting local communities in the sustainable management and use of forests, rangelands and other natural resources in dryland areas.  It also seeks to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well improve the food security and community livelihoods in the Sahel and the Sahara. Contact Global Mechanism of the UNCCD Maurizio Navarra Communications Officer m.navarra@global‐mechanism.org

Warsaw, Poland, 19 November 2013 – ‘Land belongs to the future, let’s climate proof it!’ is the slogan for next year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and drought. It captures the theme of ecosystem-based adaptation for 2014 and underscores the urgent need for action to protect healthy ecosystems and to manage productive land sustainably. “Land is the basis of all life on Earth and the source of livelihood for over 2 billion people. But every year, over 12 million productive hectares are transformed into wasteland through desertification and drought alone,” says Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). "There is a fairly close match between ecosystem collapse and the political instability or conflict in the world today. With the livelihoods of so many people still dependent on the land, climate proofing our productive lands, especially in the world’s drylands, cannot be delayed any further.” “Either we take the measures needed to enhance resilience and enable land-dependent communities to adapt or we prepare for the political consequences of our inaction. The choice is ours and 2014 is the year we are calling on every country to do its part," Barbut added. Under the theme of ecosystem-based adaptation, the World Day to Combat Desertification aims to increase the attention given to land and soil in the context of climate change adaptation and food security, as well as to mobilize public actions for sustainable land management. Ecosystem-based adaptation focuses on natural solutions for adapting to the impacts of climate change.  It is one of the least costly adaptation strategies and offers many co-benefits, such as water, soil and biodiversity conservation. Until now, climatic variations combined with unsustainable human activities have been the main drivers of land degradation and desertification. However, an increase in the number of extreme weather events and severity of droughts and floods in the last decades is threating the livelihoods of many communities around the world.  The impacts are taking a toll on the resilience of ecosystems and communities, making it harder and harder for people who depend on the land for sustenance to recover their livelihoods. This in turn has serious implications for migration and security. Through ecosystem-based adaptation, preventive actions could be taken to protect land and soil, which ultimately, is more cost effective than responding to disasters. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought has been marked every year since 1994. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to be observed in every nation in order to raise awareness about the effects of unsustainable land use and to promote implementation of the UNCCD. During the 2014 commemoration, the UNCCD will announce the winners of the 2014 Land for Life Award. This is a prestigious global award with a prize fund of USD$100,000 to recognize innovations and leadership in land and soil management and restoration. Applications for the Award, which is open to individuals, organizations, governments and research institutions, are now being accepted.  The application deadline is 15 March 2014. As part of the day’s activities, governments will also announce their 2014 National Drylands Champions, a recognition program which rewards national activities that make a practical contribution to sustainable land management. For more information on the World Day to Combat Desertification, click here.

Bonn, Germany, 14 October 2013 – His Excellency Pedro Pires, former President of Cape Verde, has accepted his designation as UNCCD Drylands Ambassador. “Sustainable Land Management, particularly the fight against desertification, land degradation and drought are major priorities for Africa,” Pires said in his acceptance message, noting further that the mission of the UNCCD secretariat “is a source of hope for a large number of countries with regard to the support needed to put in place an effective and successful programme of action.” Mr Pires expresses specific interest in promoting sustainable land management, particularly in the context of the global post-2015 Development Agenda.  The post-2015 Development Agenda is designed to bring together two separate processes: the development of Sustainable Development Goals, the outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio + 20; and the follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals that were set for up to 2015. In June 2012 at Rio + 20, world leaders recognized the growing challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought, and agreed to strive towards a land-degradation neutral world, and to monitor, globally, land degradation and land restoration in the drylands. The UNCCD has a major stake in the post-2015 Development Agenda because of the large global population of the poor residing in the drylands and depends directly on the land. The Convention also has the unique mandate of addressing both the environment and development challenges stemming from poverty and inappropriate land use. In his last official function as UNCCD Executive Secretary, Mr. Luc Gnacadja, in reference to the designation said, “we are honored to have His Excellency serving as UNCCD Drylands Ambassador. He will be a powerful spokesperson on sustainable development and combatting desertification in the global efforts to mobilize the political will needed to turn the tide towards first-rate global land stewardship.” “One of the persistent challenges the UNCCD has encountered since its inception in 1994 is making a strong case about the value of the drylands and the benefits of sustainable land management. Our effort in this regard has been gradually recognized, but we need to further enhance our advocacy so that sustainable land management becomes a key pillar of the post-2015 development agenda,” he added.  UNCCD Drylands Ambassadors are appointed to undertake specified functions, including advocacy, knowledge dissemination, awareness raising and increasing the visibility of the often poor and voiceless drylands populations. They are offered an initial two-year term that is renewable.  Others who have served or are serving as UNCCD Drylands Ambassadors include Dr. Dennis Garrity, former Director-General of the World Agroforestry Center, economist Professor Jeffrey Sachs, renowned South African gospel singer Deborah Fraser and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes of Angola. Mr Pires is an awardee of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, in recognition of making Cape Verde a model of democracy, stability and increased prosperity. 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 195 signatory Parties work to alleviate poverty in the drylands, maintain and restore the land’s productivity, and mitigate the effects of drought.

Ghent, Belgium, 17 July 2013 – Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification this morning called for action at the policy and grassroots profits in order to mitigate the effects of drought, and to combat desertification and land degradation effectively. “On the ground, we must help local communities adopt and scale up sustainable land management practices,” he stressed. On the policy front, he said, one side of the equation is to turn the global aspiration of a land-degradation neutral world into a reality by giving it a concrete target under the Sustainable Development Goals under consideration. The other side is to mitigate drought by implementing the outcomes of the recent high level meeting on national drought policy held in Geneva in order to better prepare for and manage the risks associated with drought. Gnacadja was speaking at the global Conference on Desertification and Land Degradation taking place in Ghent, Belgium, in observance of the World Day to Combat Desertification, marked worldwide on 17 June every year. To mark the celebration, Gnacadja announced the three winners of the Land for Life Award with a total prize fund of USD100,000 drawn from 137 applications received from 62 countries. Foundation for Ecological Security from India was declared overall winner with Consejo Civil Mexicano para la Silvicultura Sostenible from Mexico and World Vision Australia for its work in West Africa tied for second position, “These three winners exemplify the type of leadership and initiatives that make a difference at the grassroots level. They have succeeded in improving livelihoods while fostering good land stewardship. Much of what they do is simple, but transformational. Gnacadja stressed that “the most affected communities are not standing by, but are leading the way to drought resilience, food and water security.” To read the full statement of Luc Gnacadja, click here. Guido Van Huylenbroeck, Dean, Faculty of BioScience and Engineering, University of Ghent, stressed the need to join forces to act on land degradation using holistic approaches. He said only an integrated approach which involves not only scientists, but also biologists, agronomists and economists, among others, can offer solutions for land resources and protect them from land degradation and desertification worldwide “Not science and for science, but scientific analysis that results in concrete action,” he said. Donald Gabriels, Chairman, UNESCO Chair on Eremology at the University of Ghent outlined the achievements over two decades in the nine member countries of working together under the Sustainable Management of Marginal Drylands partnership. The World Day is observed all over the world to draw global attention to strengthen action to combat desertification and land degradation, and mitigate the effects of drought. This year, the event was marked in many countries all over the world, including, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Ghana, Georgia, Hungary, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. For more information on the Day, visit: https://www2.unccd.int/actions/17-june-desertification-and-drought-day

Top sustainable land management prize totaling USD 100,000 goes to development organizations in India, Mexico and Australia Ghent, Belgium, 17 June 2013 – For the second year running, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has announced the winners of the 2013 Land for Life Award with a USD 100,000 cash award, to shine the spotlight on organizations that show tangible evidence in combating desertification, land degradation and drought. The announcement was made as part of the worldwide celebrations of the World Day to Combat Desertification taking place today. The first prize award of USD 40,000 goes to Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), a non-governmental organization in India, which was ranked top of the 137 applicants from 62 countries. The second place was a tie between Consejo Civil Mexicano para la Silvicultura Sostenible (CCMSS) from Mexico for its work in the Amanalco Valle Bravo Basin in central Mexico and World Vision Australia for popularizing Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in the Sahel region in Africa. Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, announced the winners this morning at the Conference on Desertification and Land Degradation from the City of Ghent, Belgium, which is hosting the World Day global observance. “These three winners exemplify the type of leadership and initiatives that make the difference at the grassroots level. They improve livelihoods while fostering good land stewardship. Much of what they offer is simple, but transformational,” Mr. Gnacadja said. “We recognize innovative community initiatives that can be replicated to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable and affected populations. What is needed now are policies to attract investment to scale them up and roll them out,” he added. The organization Rehabilitation of Arid Environments in Kenya received special mention from the jury for their achievements in drylands area of Baringo County, helping rural communities to regenerate degraded land. During the event, Gnacadja also announced that Eritrea, Hungary, Kenya, Portugal and Thailand were unveiling their Drylands Champions as part of the worldwide observances to celebrate the Day. He said their zeal, drive and sacrifice keep alive the hope for a productive land heritage for children yet unborn. They “are the global land heroes of our time,” he said. The jury for the Land for Life Award is independent with experts drawn from the field of sustainable land management. It includes personalities like Ms. Yolanda Kakabadse, President of WWF, Dr. Vandana Shiva, a renowned environmental activist from India, Dr. Dennis Garrity, former executive director of World Agroforestry Center and Dr. Mary Seely from the Desert Research Foundation in Namibia, among other respected experts from academia, government, and civil society. "We are recognizing organizations that have innovated techniques that have jumped the gap and are being applied with large scale impacts and potential for replicability globally as well as nationally,” said Dr. Garrity, speaking on behalf of the Jury.  “Each of these initiatives has engaged thousands of rural people and they work at the community level, motivating smallholder farming households to actively engage as stewards of the soil."  (ends) Notes to Editors: The following is a summary of each of the winners accompanied by a quote from the winners and the Executive Secretary. Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), India When land is shared by everyone, who is responsible for its well-being? Working through traditional democratic institutions in more than 4,000 villages, FES has motivated communities to actively engage in land stewardship, changing how people gather firewood and graze their animals on common lands. By using the land restoration techniques introduced by FES, soil fertility, biodiversity and ground water availability has improved in over 200,000 hectares of common property rangelands, with benefits to an estimated 1.7 million people across India.  Their work has also influenced national laws for common land management. Quote from FES: “We are happy that 'Commons' both as resource systems and as a governance paradigm is gaining recognition internationally,” said Mr. Jagdeesh Rao, Executive Director of FES. “With our feet firmly on the ground and with growing enthusiasm, FES will continue to espouse the cause of improved governance of nature and natural resources to provide better opportunities to the rural poor.” Quote by Luc Gnacadja: “Poor land governance is one of the leading reasons for the emergence of desertification and land degradation in many parts of the world. FES has found an innovative solution to this problem and for large-scale commons.” Consejo Civil Mexicano para la Silvicultura Sostenible (CCMSS), Mexico CCMSS was recognized for its work in the Amanalco Valle Bravo Basin in central Mexico, which provides vital water and forest resources to millions of people. But the land in this valley has suffered environmental degradation recently due to population pressures and unplanned development. CCMSS has built the capacity of 1,500 smallholder farmer families to carry out sustainable agriculture and forestry management over 15,200 hectares. They are also piloting carbon finance (REDD+) and payment for ecosystem services programs in Mexico. Quote from CCMSS: “We would like to express our deep acknowledgement to the rural communities that silently make great efforts to sustainably manage landscapes, safeguarding humanity’s bio-cultural heritage,” said Mr. Sergio Madrid Zubiran, Executive Director of CCMSS. “The work of CCMSS has prospered thanks to determination of Mexican communities and to the wisdom, knowledge and efforts they make in order to collectively steward natural resources, demonstrating the success of their organization strategies.” Quote by Luc Gnacadja: “The most sustainable solutions to our environmental problems are those that find a balance between resource conservation, improving livelihoods and income generation, and CCMSS has found that balance.” World Vision Australia and Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in West Africa World Vision Australia has popularized the concept of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) in West Africa and beyond, changing how thousands of farmers manage their land. In many degraded environments, the naturally-occurring trees and shrubs have been cut for firewood, building materials and to plant crops, but the roots remain under the ground - an "underground forest".  By managing this underground forest back to maturity, degraded forests are restored, thereby reversing biodiversity loss and reducing vulnerability to climate change. When FMNR trees are integrated into crops and grazing pastures there is an increase in crop yields, soil fertility and organic matter, soil moisture and leaf fodder. There is also a decrease in wind and heat damage, and soil erosion. Over the last 20 years, World Vision Australia has trained thousands of farmers in FMNR, resulting in the restoration of thousands of hectares in 14 countries. Quote from World Vision Australia:  "World Vision Australia is thrilled by the UNCCD's recognition of our reforestation work. This award is another big step towards global recognition of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration and the impact it's having on tackling poverty,” said Mr. Tim Costello, chief executive of World Vision Australia.  “The pioneer of FMNR, Tony Rinaudo, has committed his life to reforesting degraded land and bringing hope back to communities, so it is a great pleasure for me and my colleagues to witness the impact his work is now having in 14 countries around the world. FMNR is truly turning man-made deserts into food bowls and that's something World Vision is immensely proud of."   Quote by Luc Gnacadja: “The value of traditional and indigenous knowledge systems in environmental management today is often questioned, but in FMNR, the power of traditional knowledge systems that are combined with conventional science truly comes alive. The scale of land rehabilitation in this region and the impact it has had on the well-being of the local people is nothing short of phenomenal.” About the Land for Life Award The Land for Life award programme is a collaborative initiative between the UNCCD and the Korea Forest Service, Elion Resources Group, China, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Global Environment Facility, International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Qatar National Food Security Programme. For media coverage and interviews, contact: Ms. Emily Davila Email: edavila@unccd.int Tel: +49 228 815 2831 Resources Photos of Land for Life Award winners for Media use:  https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=28035CC649F0A07A!1216&authkey=!AMoSJ4nwb9Z31gg More on the WDCD and events taking place around the world:  /en/programmes/Event-and-campaigns/WDCD/WDCD2013/Pages/default.aspx?HighlightID=168 Land for Life Award: /en/programmes/Event-and-campaigns/LandForLife