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Bonn, Germany, 18 February 18, 2025 – A landmark collaboration is taking shape in the global fight against land degradation. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate efforts in sustainable land and water management, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in support of the sustainable development agenda. A partnership for sustainable growth Land degradation, desertification and drought pose critical challenges worldwide, affecting ecosystems, economies and communities. Recognizing the urgency of these issues, UNCCD and GGGI are joining forces to create innovative solutions that integrate environmental sustainability with economic growth.  This collaboration is firmly rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the objectives of the Rio Conventions, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainable land management. Under the MoU, UNCCD and GGGI will leverage their expertise to: Develop and implement joint programs focused on sustainable land and water management, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. Enhance resource mobilization efforts to secure funding and technical support for land restoration initiatives. Engage the private sector to drive investment and technical innovation in sustainable land management projects. Promote knowledge-sharing and capacity-building through training programs, policy dialogues and best practice exchanges. Design green investment strategies to support countries in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and drought resilience targets. A shared vision for impactful action By working together, UNCCD and GGGI aim to unlock new opportunities for land restoration and ecosystem conservation. Their collaboration will also extend to joint advisory services, feasibility studies and publications that inform and inspire action on the ground. “I am pleased to announce this strategic partnership between UNCCD and GGGI, which marks a significant step in our collective efforts to combat land degradation, enhance biodiversity conservation and build resilience against climate change," stated Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary. "This MoU is a testament to our shared commitment to a future where land is valued, protected and restored for the benefit of people and the planet.” GGGI Director-General Sang-Hyup Kim echoed this sentiment: 'The collaboration with UNCCD reflects GGGI’s strong commitment to land restoration and biodiversity conservation. This partnership will not only shed light on the financial and policy elements. GGGI looks forward to a powerful collaboration with UNCCD to tackle climate challenges related to land degradation, water management and drought.'" Looking ahead: Turning ambition into action As the world faces escalating environmental challenges, the partnership between UNCCD and GGGI represents a critical step forward. With a shared mission to create sustainable, climate-resilient landscapes, their collaboration will support countries in transforming policies into tangible action, ensuring that economic development is both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. Media contact: press@unccd.int  About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss.  About GGGI  The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was established in 2012 as a treaty-based intergovernmental organization at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. It supports its 49 Member States and 29 Partner countries in transitioning to a green growth model that integrates poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and economic growth. Operating in over 51 countries, GGGI helps nations meet their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement commitments. Currently, GGGI is implementing 10+ projects funded by AFD across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific, focusing on green investment, climate-resilient agriculture, the circular economy and sustainable solutions in forestry, mobility, energy and industry — all aligned with GGGI’s Programmatic Solutions. 

Munich, Germany, 16 February, 2025 – As global leaders convene at the Munich Security Conference 2025 (MSC2025) to address pressing security challenges, land restoration is emerging as a crucial strategy for conflict prevention and long-term stability. At the MSC 2025 session Conversation on Land Restoration and Security, hosted by UNCCD in partnership with Adelphi research, experts and decision-makers explored the role of land restoration in fostering resilience, security and transboundary cooperation.  UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Land degradation is not merely an environmental crisis — it is a critical security challenge. Over 3 billion people depend on land for survival, yet up to 40 per cent of global land is already degraded, exacerbating food and water scarcity, economic instability and displacement. Governments, security organizations and financial institutions must recognize that restoring land is restoring peace. Without urgent action, competition over shrinking resources will continue to drive instability and displacement.” The significance of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification today extends far beyond its original goal of combating desertification. As fertile soils become increasingly scarce and land rights are challenged globally, these issues threaten food security, biodiversity and climate stability, said Jochen Flasbarth, the State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), adding that “Ultimately, they pose a serious risk to global peace and security. To effectively respond, the agenda on land, peace and security must be elevated on the global stage, with a strong emphasis on integrated cooperation at international, regional and national levels."Land degradation: A global security threat As climate change accelerates desertification and depletes essential resources, competition over dwindling land intensifies, increasing the risks of conflict and forced migration. It is estimated that climate change could lead millions of people moving within their own borders by 2050. The Ground for Peace report highlights: Land degradation exacerbates conflict, intensifying competition over food, water and resources60 per cent of ecosystem services in conflict-affected regions have already been degraded, making recovery even more challengingOnly 10 per cent of global climate finance (2015-2024) has been allocated to land restoration, despite its role in reducing conflict risksThe economic cost of land degradation is estimated at $6.3 trillion annually, significantly impacting global stabilityEnvironmental peacebuilding initiatives, such as transboundary land restoration, create shared incentives for cooperation and long-term stabilityStrengthened governance and land tenure rights are essential to ensuring that land restoration contributes to lasting peace and resilience“The Ground for Peace report presents compelling evidence from global research and real-world initiatives that restoring land and ecosystems is not just an environmental necessity — it is a strategic pathway to peace and security,” says Dr Beatrice Mosello, Senior Advisor at adelphi research. “By demonstrating how sustainable land management reduces competition over resources and fosters cooperation, the report makes a strong case for integrating land restoration into global security policies. Urgent action is needed to scale up financing and policy support, ensuring that land restoration becomes a key tool for peacebuilding worldwide.” The role of land restoration in global security Transboundary land restoration presents a critical opportunity for mitigating and resolving disputes over shared natural resources. By fostering cross-border collaboration, sustainable land management can serve as a confidence-building measure, equipping governments and marginalized communities with the tools needed for cooperative decision-making. One such initiative is the Peace Forest Initiative (PFI), launched by the UNCCD in partnership with the Korea Forest Service. The PFI promotes cross-border cooperation in fragile and conflict-affected regions by restoring degraded lands and forests, reducing tensions and fostering trust through shared environmental efforts. Successful large-scale restoration projects further demonstrate the potential of land rehabilitation to strengthen regional cooperation and economic resilience. The Great Green Wall, which stretches across the Sahel, has shown how combating desertification can also enhance stability and livelihoods. Similarly, the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) — one of the world's largest conservation zones — exemplifies how joint resource management can protect biodiversity while easing tensions over land and water access across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Latin America, the Cordillera del Cóndor Transboundary Conservation Corridor, established as part of a peace agreement between Ecuador and Peru, underscores the role of environmental restoration in reconciliation and long-term stability. However, the success of these initiatives depends on strong governance frameworks and sustained financial commitments to ensure their long-term viability and impact.  Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Affairs Minister of State Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir emphasized the far-reaching consequences of land degradation, stating: “Land degradation leads to conflicts, leads to violence, leads to extremism, leads to terrorism, leads to migration, leads to political instability and leads to all of us paying an extremely high price to deal with the consequences of an issue that, had we paid attention to at the outset, would have cost us a fraction of the resources.” The Ground for Peace report calls for immediate investments in land restoration as a fundamental pillar of conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Scalable solutions—such as agroforestry, reforestation and water conservation—must be expanded to stabilize fragile regions, reduce resource-driven conflicts and foster economic resilience. Media contact: press@unccd.int The full report, Ground for Peace: Land Restoration for International Peace and Security report is available here.About UNCCD  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 Parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss. About adelphiAdelphi research is an independent think tank and public policy consultancy focused on climate, environment and sustainable development. It supports policymakers and stakeholders in achieving sustainable solutions to global challenges. About the Peace Forest Initiative The Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) is a UNCCD flagship program linking land, peace and security by restoring ecosystems in fragile, conflict-affected areas. Launched in 2019, it fosters transboundary cooperation by uniting communities across borders to co-manage shared land resources. Inspired by early environmental peace-building successes at the 2018 Global LDN Forum, PFI provides an inclusive platform for stakeholders to restore land, soil, water and forests, strengthening resilience, peace and sustainable development. You can watch the recording here.Photo (c): MSC / Thomas Niedermueller

Dear representatives of the UNCCD accredited civil society organizations (CSOs),Through decision 5/COP16, Parties requested the UNCCD Executive Secretary “to facilitate the renewal of the membership of the Civil Society Organization Panel until the next Conference of the Parties starting immediately after sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with previous decisions.”Following that request, the secretariat would like to share with you the call for nominations (see the right-hand menu) and the information related to the elections. Organizations willing to nominate representatives to serve as panel members will need to submit the documents stated in section 1 paragraph d) of the attached document. The deadline for the submission of the candidates is 18 February 2025. After that, and once the candidates have been reviewed and accepted the election process will be open from 21 February to 7 March 2025. Please share this information among your networks and come up with the best member to represent you for the next two years. Only organizations accredited to the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD can nominate candidates

For centuries, rangelands and pastoralist communities have been the backbone of cultures, economies and ecosystems around the world. Covering more than half of the Earth's land surface, these vast landscapes support two billion people and contribute significantly to global food security and climate resilience. Yet they have remained largely invisible in international policy discussions, slowly degrading under the pressures of climate change, unsustainable land use and economic expansion.   At UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, nations took a decisive step by adopting a decision on rangelands and pastoralists, marking an unprecedented commitment to protect these critical ecosystems and the people who depend on them. This commitment represents a fundamental shift, placing rangelands alongside forests and wetlands in global conservation efforts and ensuring that their role in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and food security is fully recognized.   Why rangelands are more important than ever Rangelands and grasslands provide one-sixth of the world's food supply and store nearly one-third of the planet's carbon stocks in their deep-rooted soils. They are vital to smallholder herders, farmers and indigenous communities, yet more than 50 per cent of these ecosystems are now degraded.  As Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), warns, their decline is often overlooked: "When a forest is destroyed, the loss is visible and causes immediate concern. But rangeland degradation is silent, often unnoticed and undervalued." He emphasizes the urgent need for global action to protect these landscapes before it is too late.  Beyond their economic significance, healthy rangelands stabilize soil, prevent erosion, regulate water cycles, enhance biodiversity, and store carbon – essential functions in the fight against climate change. Yet, despite their immense ecological value, these landscapes have historically received far less attention and funding than forests and wetlands. Recognizing this oversight, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), a global initiative designed to highlight the indispensable contributions of rangelands and pastoralist communities to our planet’s health and economies. A landmark decision at COP16 For the first time, UNCCD Parties adopted a decision to promote the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands – vast ecosystems used for grazing – ahead of COP17, which will be hosted by Mongolia in 2026.   Countries have pledged to improve pastoralists' land rights by aligning with international guidelines, strengthening legal protections and ensuring access to rangelands. The decision also emphasizes the value of Indigenous and local knowledge in sustainable land management, recognizing the role of traditional pastoral practices in conserving these ecosystems for future generations. Commitments were made to mobilize public-private partnerships, establish biodiversity credits and develop innovative financing models to ensure long-term investment.  This pivotal shift ends decades of neglect and places rangelands at the centre of global sustainability efforts. It aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and strengthens their integration into national biodiversity and climate strategies and action plans. With Mongolia set to host UNCCD COP17 in 2026, the global community has a unique opportunity to cement rangelands as a key focus of environmental policy. Plans are already underway to develop a UNCCD Flagship Initiative on Rangelands, which will foster international cooperation, secure large-scale funding for restoration, and facilitate knowledge sharing between scientists and pastoral communities.    However, systemic challenges remain. Conflicting land use policies, economic pressures and a lack of formal recognition of pastoralists' rights continue to threaten rangeland sustainability. Many pastoralist communities face displacement due to land conversion, mining and large-scale agricultural projects that prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term ecosystem health. Addressing these issues requires an integrated approach that combines scientific research, policy reform and traditional land management.    Translating commitments into action   “The commitments at UNCCD COP16 mark a turning point, but success depends on sustained collaboration. Governments must work closely with pastoralists and livestock value chain agents, conservation groups and financial institutions, to scale up investment through sustainable financing and innovative tools.” said Enrique Michaud co-chair of the IYRP Global Alliance. "Securing pastoralists' land rights is crucial to prevent displacement and conflict, to ensure access to their traditional rangelands and to fortify the ecosystem services they provide." Sustainable rangeland and land-use planning must balance conservation efforts with the economic realities of pastoral livelihoods, promoting land management strategies that maintain ecosystem health while supporting local economies. Rangeland conservation must also be fully integrated into national and global climate adaptation strategies to ensure that these landscapes contribute to long-term resilience to climate change and desertification.   Ensuring rangeland sustainability is not just an environmental imperative – it is a necessity for climate security, food sovereignty and cultural preservation. As UNCCD Parties and partners prepare for COP17, the momentum generated at COP16 must be translated into real action.  About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss. https://unccd.int About the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists On the initiative of Mongolia, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) to enhance rangeland management and the lives of pastoralists. With this declaration, UN Member States are called upon to invest in sustainable rangeland management, to restore degraded lands, to improve market access by pastoralists, to enhance livestock extension services, and to fill knowledge gaps on rangelands and pastoralism. The IYRP 2026 will coincide with the UNCCD COP17 to be hosted by Mongolia. https://iyrp.info 

To what extent are a country’s economy, people, and infrastructure able to cope with drought and how can they do better? That is what the latest initiative of IDRA looks to answer, as 75 per cent of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades and drought is driving forced displacement, disrupting shipping and hampering food and energy production around the world.The International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO), the first global AI-driven platform for proactive drought management, unveiled its prototype at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, which laid the groundwork for a future global drought regime.As the tool enters its final development phase ahead of the next UN land conference, which will take place in Mongolia in 2026, IDRO developers and partners break down what sets the Observatory apart, how it fits with existing drought-related initiatives, and why it matters for climate change adaptation.What kind of insights does IDRO provide?IDRO sheds light on the capacity of territories to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to drought from various perspectives —built environments, natural environments, communities, and the economy. By selecting different variables, users from the global to the local level can generate visualizations to understand where the pain points are and set priorities for action.“With IDRO, authorities and land and water managers will be able to analyze and visualize key drought resilience indicators as the basis for better decisions,” says UNCCD Senior Advisor Edgar Gutiérrez-Espeleta.Importantly, users needn’t be specialists to use, and draw value from, the tool, which can support interventions across global, regional, country, and local scales.Why do we need an International Drought Resilience Observatory?“We must move from merely assessing drought risks towards building resilience,” says Andrea Toreti, senior scientist at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (EC- JRC), who coordinates the Copernicus European and Global Drought Observatories. “This is precisely IDRO’s added value: helping to quantify and evaluate the drought resilience status of a place to inform action on the ground.”The confirmation of 2024 as the warmest year on record highlights the growing urgency to turn science and data into policies and policies into action.“Simply put, we cannot adapt to climate change without building drought resilience,” says Roger Pulwarty, Senior Scientist at the Physical Sciences Laboratory of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). State Secretary of Environment of Spain Hugo Morán, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Minister for Environment of Saudi Arabia Osama Faqeeha, Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal Daouda Ngom, and European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall, during the IDRO presentation at COP16 in December 2024.What unique value does IDRO add to existing drought databases and tools?In the past decade, experts have produced a wealth of data, indicators and metrics on drought and have advocated for a shift in emphasis from response to preparedness. However, the breadth and complexity of this information and the fact that it is scattered means it can be hard for busy decision-makers to use it.IDRO will draw on the best available data globally —including NASA’s and Copernicus’— to answer queries in a format that non-specialists can easily assimilate.“IDRO will package complex drought resilience information into accessible, customizable, and highly actionable formats, unlocking a world of possibilities in terms of assessing priorities, targeting investments, and monitoring progress,” says Hugo Morán, State Secretary of Environment of Spain, which co-chairs IDRA.Who is leading the development of IDRO?IDRO is an initiative of the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), a global coalition of more than 70 countries and organizations hosted by the UNCCD.The creation of the Observatory is overseen by the IDRA secretariat in collaboration with the Yale Center for Ecosystems + Architecture, which acts as a developer, and top experts from governmental, non-governmental, multilateral, and research organizations from around the world.At a COP16 event on IDRO, Executive Secretary of UNCCD Ibrahim Thiaw pointed out the systemic nature of drought and the need to tackle it together: “We can only achieve meaningful results by joining forces; IDRO is a perfect example of the collaborative mindset we require to protect people from impending and future droughts.”The Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal Daouda Ngom, who co-chairs IDRA, also welcomed the development of the Observatory: “It reaffirms our joint commitment to making drought resilience a cornerstone of sustainable development and international cooperation.”What initiatives does IDRO build on?The Drought Initiative, launched by UNCCD in 2018, has already supported more than 70 countries in creating national drought plans and improving the technical and institutional capacity to enhance drought management. Additionally, it put together a toolbox that stakeholders can use to boost the resilience of people and ecosystems to drought.How does IDRO relate to initiatives like the Riyadh Drought Partnership?Unveiled at UNCCD COP16, the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership is a financial facility launched by Saudi Arabia —an IDRA member since 2024— to support 80 of the world’s most vulnerable countries in preparing for drought.IDRA, which is currently focused on mobilizing political will and developing innovative tools like IDRO, is proud to have inspired the Partnership and the Arab Coordination Group to raise USD 12.15 billion for the land and drought agenda, as announced during COP16.“IDRO will provide critical information to vulnerable communities and synergize with the Riyadh Partnership,” said Deputy Minister for Environment of Saudi Arabia Osama Faqeeha at an IDRO event at the UN conference.What is next for IDRO?IDRA is convening leading drought experts and allies to fine tune suitable environmental and social indicators for drought resilience; further develop the functionalities of the Observatory, which harnesses remote-sensing data and AI; and enhance data collection and visualization. The final version of IDRO, with all its functionalities, is expected to launch at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in 2026. 

Riad, Arabia Saudí, 14 de diciembre 2024 — Tras dos semanas de intensas negociaciones sobre cómo hacer frente a la degradación de tierras, la desertificación y la sequía, hoy ha concluido en Riad, Arabia Saudí, la mayor y más inclusiva conferencia sobre tierra de la historia de las Naciones Unidas.Los cerca de 200 países reunidos en la 16ª Conferencia de las Partes (COP16) de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) se han comprometido a priorizar la restauración de tierras y la resiliencia a la sequía en las políticas nacionales y la cooperación internacional, reconociendo que es indispensable para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria y la adaptación al cambio climático. Las naciones  también han logrado avances significativos en las negociaciones de un futuro régimen mundial contra la sequía, que se proponen completar en la COP17 de Mongolia en 2026.Durante la COP16,  se han logrado compromisos de más de 12.000 millones de dólares para hacer frente a la degradación de tierras y la sequía en todo el mundo, especialmente en los países más vulnerables.Entre los principales acuerdos alcanzados en la COP16 están la creación de un Caucus para los Pueblos Indígenas y un Caucus para las Comunidades Locales con el fin de garantizar que sus perspectivas y los retos específicos que enfrentan estén adecuadamente representados; la continuación de la Interfaz Ciencia-Política de la Convención para reforzar la toma de decisiones basada en la ciencia; y la movilización del sector privado en el marco de la iniciativa Business4Land.La COP16 ha sido la mayor y más inclusiva de las COP de la CNULD hasta la fecha: ha atraído a más de 20.000 participantes, unos 3.500 de ellos de la sociedad civil, y ha contado con más de 600 eventos como parte de la primera Agenda de Acción para implicar a los actores no estatales en el trabajo de la Convención. En una declaración preparada, la Vicesecretaria General de las Naciones Unidas, Amina J. Mohammed, ha subrayado: “Nuestro trabajo no termina con la clausura de la COP16. Debemos seguir haciendo frente a la crisis climática con una llamada a la inclusión, la innovación y la resiliencia. Los jóvenes y los pueblos indígenas deben estar en el centro de estas conversaciones. Su sabiduría, sus voces y su creatividad son indispensables para construir un futuro sostenible con esperanzas renovadas para las generaciones venideras”.En su discurso de clausura, el Presidente de la COP16, el Ministro de Medio Ambiente, Agua y Agricultura de Arabia Saudí, Abdulrahman Alfadley, afirmó que la reunión ha marcado un punto de inflexión en la concienciación internacional sobre la acuciante necesidad de acelerar la restauración de tierras y la resiliencia a la sequía. “La acogida de esta importante conferencia refleja el compromiso de Arabia Saudí con las cuestiones medioambientales y el desarrollo sostenible. Asimismo, reafirma su dedicación a trabajar con todas las partes para preservar los ecosistemas, mejorar la cooperación internacional para combatir la degradación de la tierra y la desertificación y enfrentar la sequía. Confiamos en que los resultados de esta sesión conduzcan a un cambio significativo que refuerce los esfuerzos para preservar la tierra, reducir su degradación, aumentar las capacidades para enfrentar la sequía y contribuir al bienestar de las comunidades de todo el mundo”.En su intervención en la sesión plenaria de clausura de la COP16, el Secretario General Adjunto y Secretario Ejecutivo de la CNULD, Ibrahim Thiaw, declaró: “Como hemos debatido y presenciado, las soluciones están a nuestro alcance. Las medidas que tomemos hoy darán forma no sólo al futuro de nuestro planeta, sino también a las vidas, los medios de subsistencia y las oportunidades de quienes dependen de él”. Además, Thiaw destacó una evolución significativa en el enfoque global de los problemas relacionados con la degradación de tierras y la sequía, reiterando su interconexión con problemas globales como el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad, la seguridad alimentaria, la migración forzada y la estabilidad global. Necesidades financieras y compromisosDurante la Conferencia, se dio a conocer que la CNULD necesita al menos 2,6 billones de dólares en inversiones totales para 2030 para restaurar más de 1.000 millones de hectáreas de tierras degradadas y aumentar la resiliencia a la sequía. Esto equivale a 1 billón de dólares en inversiones diarias de aquí a 2030 para alcanzar los objetivos mundiales de restauración de tierras y luchar contra la desertificación y la sequía.Asimismo, se anunciaron nuevos compromisos para la recuperación de tierras a gran escala y la preparación ante la sequía. Un ejemplo es la Alianza Mundial de Riad para la Resiliencia ante la Sequía, que movilizó 12.150 millones de dólares para ayudar a 80 de los países más vulnerables del mundo a aumentar su resiliencia ante la sequía. Ello incluye un compromiso de 10.000 millones de USD del Grupo Árabe de Coordinación, que también contempla la degradación de tierras.La Gran Muralla Verde (GGW), una iniciativa liderada por África para restaurar 100 millones de hectáreas de tierras degradadas, también movilizó 11 millones de euros del Gobierno italiano para restaurar paisajes en el Sahel y 3,6 millones de euros del Gobierno austríaco para reforzar la coordinación y aplicación de la iniciativa en 22 países africanos. El impulso forma parte del Acelerador GGW, un esfuerzo respaldado por la CNULD para alcanzar las ambiciones de un Sahel más verde y próspero. Además, Estados Unidos y varios países y organizaciones aliadas anunciaron inversiones totales de casi 70 millones de dólares para impulsar la Visión de Cultivos y Suelos Adaptados (VACS). Esta iniciativa pretende crear sistemas alimentarios resilientes basados en cultivos diversos, nutritivos, adaptados al clima, y plantados en suelos sanos.La primera COP de la CNULD en Oriente Medio y el Norte de África ha brindado la oportunidad de arrojar luz sobre los retos específicos a los que se enfrenta la región y poner de relieve soluciones innovadoras a la degradación de tierras y la sequía. El Reino de Arabia Saudí anunció cinco nuevos proyectos por valor de 60 millones de dólares para intensificar los esfuerzos climáticos y medioambientales como parte de la Iniciativa Verde Saudí. La Presidencia de la COP16 de la CNULD también anunció el lanzamiento de una iniciativa internacional de vigilancia de las tormentas de arena y polvo. Este esfuerzo, que forma parte de un sistema regional de alerta temprana, pretende complementar los esfuerzos existentes supervisados por la Organización Meteorológica Mundial (OMM).El Observatorio Internacional de la Resiliencia a la Sequía (IDRO), cuyo prototipo se presentó en la COP16, será la primera plataforma mundial impulsada por IA para ayudar a los países a evaluar y mejorar su capacidad de hacer frente a sequías más duras. Esta innovadora herramienta es una iniciativa de la Alianza Internacional para la Resiliencia a la Sequía (IDRA), de la que Arabia Saudí es miembro desde hace poco.Más voz para los pueblos indígenas y otros actores no estatalesEn una decisión histórica, las Partes solicitaron la creación de un Caucus para los Pueblos Indígenas y un Caucus para las Comunidades Locales. El objetivo es garantizar que sus perspectivas y prioridades únicas estén adecuadamente representadas en los trabajos del Convenio. La declaración ‘Tierras Sagradas’, presentada durante el Foro inaugural de los Pueblos Indígenas en una COP de la CNULD, subrayó el papel de los Pueblos Indígenas en la gestión sostenible de los recursos y pidió una mayor implicación en la gobernanza mundial de la tierra y la sequía, incluyendo la participación en los esfuerzos de restauración de la tierra. “Hoy se ha hecho historia”, afirmó el representante de los Pueblos Indígenas, Oliver Tester, de Australia. “Esperamos poder defender nuestro compromiso de proteger a la Madre Tierra a través de un grupo creado específicamente para nuestros pueblos, y dejamos esta Conferencia confiando en que nuestras voces serán escuchadas”. En la COP16 también se registró la mayor participación juvenil hasta la fecha, sobre la base de la Estrategia y Plan de Acción de la CNULD para la Participación Juvenil, que pretende dar a los jóvenes un papel más destacado en las negociaciones y acciones sobre tierras y sequía, y proporcionar apoyo técnico y financiero a las iniciativas lideradas por jóvenes. En materia de género, los países subrayaron la necesidad de prestar especial atención a todas las formas de discriminación que sufren las mujeres y las niñas a la hora de diseñar y aplicar políticas y programas relacionados con la degradación de tierras y la sequía.En reconocimiento del importante papel del sector privado, que actualmente sólo aporta el 6% de la financiación destinada a la restauración de tierras y la resiliencia a la sequía, las Partes han encomendado a la Secretaría de la CNULD y al Mecanismo Mundial que movilicen a este sector en el marco de la iniciativa Business4Land. La decisión remarca el papel fundamental que deben jugar la iniciativa privada; las estrategias ambientales, sociales y de gobernanza (ESG); y la financiación sostenible para hacer frente a los retos de la degradación de tierras y la sequía. La decisión llega tras el Foro Business4Land, que reunió al mayor número de participantes del sector privado en una COP de la CNULD —más de 400–- de sectores como el financiero, la moda, el agroalimentario y el farmacéutico.Nuevos datos científicos sobre tierras y sequíaReconociendo el papel de la ciencia como base de políticas sólidas, las Partes acordaron mantener la Interfaz Ciencia-Política (ISP) de la CNULD, creada en la COP11 en 2013 para traducir los hallazgos científicos en recomendaciones para los responsables de la toma de decisiones. En la COP16, por ejemplo, la SPI ha presentado pruebas definitivas de que tres cuartas partes de la superficie terrestre libre de hielo se han vuelto permanentemente más secas en los últimos 30 años, con una previsión de que 5.000 millones de personas vivan en zonas áridas para 2100, lo que demuestra la urgencia de tomar medidas.Un nuevo informe de la CNULD, La amenaza mundial de las tierras áridas: Tendencias regionales y mundiales de la aridez y proyecciones futuras, revela que alrededor del 77,6% de la superficie terrestre ha experimentado condiciones más secas desde la década de 1990 en comparación con el período anterior de 30 años. Durante el mismo periodo, las tierras secas —zonas áridas con escasas precipitaciones— se expandieron en unos 4,3 millones de km2, lo que equivale a una superficie casi un tercio mayor que la de la India, el séptimo país más grande del mundo. Las tierras secas cubren ahora el 40,6% de toda la tierra del planeta, excluida la Antártida.Siete de los nueve límites planetarios se ven afectados negativamente por el uso insostenible de la tierra, destaca el informe de la CNULD Stepping back from the precipice: Transforming land management to stay within planetary boundaries, elaborado en colaboración con el Instituto de Potsdam para la Investigación del Impacto Climático, que explica cómo la degradación de tierras está socavando la capacidad de la Tierra para sostener una población humana creciente. El informe reitera que la agricultura es responsable del 23% de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, del 80% de la deforestación y del 70% del uso de agua dulce, y pide una transición urgente del uso de la tierra para alejarse del precipicio.Según los informes Atlas Mundial de la Sequía y Economía de la Resiliencia a la Sequía, publicados recientemente por la CNULD, las sequías afectan a los medios de subsistencia de 1.800 millones de personas en todo el mundo, poniendo al borde del abismo a comunidades ya de por sí vulnerables. También suponen un coste estimado de 300.000 millones de dólares al año, amenazando sectores económicos clave como la agricultura, la energía y el agua. De Riad a MongoliaPor primera vez, las Partes de la CNULD tomaron una decisión que fomenta la gestión sostenible, la restauración y la conservación de los pastizales —vastos ecosistemas utilizados para el pastoreo— antes de la COP17, que acogerá Mongolia en 2026 durante el Año Internacional de los Pastizales y el Pastoreo. Estos ecosistemas cubren la mitad de la superficie terrestre del planeta y son el uso dominante de la tierra en las zonas áridas del mundo, pero durante mucho tiempo se han pasado por alto y están desapareciendo más rápidamente que las selvas tropicales. La degradación de los pastizales amenaza una sexta parte del suministro mundial de alimentos y puede agotar un tercio de las reservas de carbono de la Tierra. Unos 2.000 millones de personas que viven en zonas de pastoreo se encuentran entre las más vulnerables del mundo frente a la desertificación, la degradación de tierras y la sequía. FINNOTASConsultas de los medios de comunicación:Para consultas de los medios de comunicación, póngase en contacto con la Oficina de Prensa de la CNULD en press@unccd.int o unccd@portland-communications.com.Las decisiones de la COP16 están disponibles aquí: https://www.unccd.int/cop16/official-documents*Desertificación: degradación de la tierra en zonas áridas, semiáridas y subhúmedas secas como resultado de la actividad humana.Acerca de la CNULDLa Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD) es un acuerdo internacional sobre la buena gestión de tierras que ayuda a las comunidades y a los países a crear prosperidad y asegurar alimentos suficientes, agua limpia y energía. Las 197 Partes de la Convención también impulsan una gestión proactiva y eficaz de la sequía. Una buena gestión de la tierra basada en políticas y conocimientos científicos ayuda a integrar y a acelerar la consecución de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible, aumenta la resiliencia al cambio climático y evita la pérdida de biodiversidad.Acerca de la COP16La Conferencia de las Partes (COP) fue establecida por la Convención como su principal órgano de toma de decisiones. Está formada por las 197 Partes de la CLD (196 países y la Unión Europea) y es responsable de orientar la Convención para que pueda responder a los retos mundiales y a las necesidades nacionales. La COP16 de la CNULD ha sido un evento crucial para aumentar la ambición global y acelerar la acción sobre la resiliencia de la tierra y la sequía a través de un enfoque centrado en las personas. Coincidiendo con el 30º aniversario de la Convención, la COP16 de la CNULD ha sido la primera gran conferencia de las Naciones Unidas organizada por el Reino de Arabia Saudí. También ha sido la primera vez que una COP de la CNULD se celebraba en la región de Oriente Medio y Norte de África (MENA), que conoce de primera mano los impactos de la degradación de tierras y la sequía.