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Land degradation in the Horn of Africa poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of millions, reducing agricultural productivity and exacerbating food insecurity. The region, where 70 per cent of the area is classified as arid or semi-arid, is experiencing its most severe drought in the past four decades, with dire consequences for local livelihoods and resilience. By December 2022, over 36.5 million people have been significantly impacted by the drought, with more than 20 million facing acute food insecurity as a direct consequence. Border communities face persistent poverty, as well as food insecurity, conflict, mass displacement, limited access to public services, environmental degradation, severe climate impacts and diminished agricultural outputs. In Ethiopia, for example, nearly 85 per cent of the land is affected by degradation, impacting approximately 30 million people, and costing the country an estimated USD 4.3 billion annually in lost agricultural productivity. The potential of sustainable land management and landscape restoration to address negative impacts of climate change and conflict became the focus of a UNCCD Peace Forest Initiative (PFI) workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on May 28–30, 2024. The goal of the Initiative is to foster peace and trust in conflict-affected and fragile settings by uniting communities across national borders to co-manage shared land resources and ecosystems. As climate change intensifies conflicts over natural resources, the PFI has the potential to assist countries in the Horn of Africa in integrating environmental and resource management into their conflict resolution practices, helping local communities secure livelihoods and address transboundary issues such as land degradation and water scarcity. The workshop in Addis Ababa focused on three main intervention areas: Sustainable, integrated landscapes management Development of agricultural commodities, value chains and trade\ Improvement of data management and sharing, and access Building on the groundwork laid at the inaugural PFI workshop in Nairobi in June 2023, this year’s event showcased a step-by-step approach to tackling environmental and socio-economic challenges in the Horn of Africa. Representatives of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda together with government officials, representatives of development agencies and regional organizations attended the workshop, organized by the Global Mechanism of UNCCD, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and CIFOR-ICRAF. As the Director General of the Ethiopian Forestry Development at the Ministry of Agriculture in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Kebede Yimam, noted, “Forest landscape restoration activities are of paramount importance to enhance our economic development, improve the livelihood of farm households, conserve biodiversity and enhance resilience to climate change impacts.” Workshop participants agreed on the need to align PFI activities with existing regional frameworks and initiatives, such as the Great Green Wall Initiative. IGAD representatives also presented existing projects that could be included in the PFI. Representatives of each participating country outlined national priorities and discussed challenges they face, such as data and resource availability. The workshop outlined actionable interventions to reverse land degradation, improve livelihoods and build climate resilience. The next workshop, planned for early 2025, will be validating project concepts and finalizing detailed project proposals in the participating countries. These outcomes will also contribute to the work of the upcoming UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP16), ensuring that the PFI approaches are integrated into broader international dialogue on land degradation and sustainable land management.

Paris, 26 July 2024 - Desertification and land degradation represent a major challenge for the global sporting community. Sports pitches are directly affected by these phenomena. Drought and extreme temperatures make playing surfaces harder and more brittle, increasing the risk of injury for athletes. In addition, frequent heatwaves mean sporting events must be rescheduled, disrupting athletes' preparation and performance.According to a recent survey, 75 per cent of athletes perceive a negative impact on their health and performance because of climate change. In addition to the direct effects on athletes, global warming reduces opportunities for community and youth activities, particularly affecting marginalized groups.Healthy land not only provides us with almost 95 per cent of our food but so much more: it clothes and shelters us, provides us with jobs and livelihoods and protects us from worsening droughts, floods and forest fires. At the same time, population growth and unsustainable production and consumption patterns fuel demand for natural resources. By 2050, 10 billion people will share our planet and depend on healthy land for their livelihoods.To address these issues, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is organizing a ‘Desertification Day’ on 31 July 2024 at the Africa Station of the Olympic Games on Ile-Saint-Denis. The aim of the event is to raise awareness and get the sporting community involved in land issues ahead of UNCCD COP16, the UN's biggest conference on land issues, in December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.In partnership with the Mairie de l'île-Saint-Denis and the Association d'Esprit d'Ebène, the UNCCD is offering exciting activities such as a desertification fresco, an oasis of solutions, a desertification quiz with prizes to be won, and a screening of the film ‘The Great Green Wall’ by Inna Modja, the UNCCD's Goodwill Ambassador.To mark the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, a debate will be organized with athletes and personalities from the world of sport to demonstrate the links between desertification and sport.Among the participants are:Merem Tahar, Special Envoy on Youth of the President of UNCCDCOP15, Chad/FranceNaomi Akakpo, Olympic Athlete (hurdler), Togo/FranceMustapha Berraf, First Vice-President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, AlgeriaVladyslava Kravchenko, Para Swimming Athlete and member of the International Paralympic Committee's Athletes' Council, MaltaThe day will also see the launch of the UNCCD's ‘Sport4Land’ campaign, which aims to get sports personalities involved in protecting the land: #United4Land for a prosperous future.Restoring land is an effective method of promoting a better quality of life, ensuring food security and sustainable growth.A healthy playground starts with a healthy planet. Let's commit to preserving our land in the same way we commit to our favorite sport!For media enquiries, please contact press@unccd.int.

Los medios de comunicación ya pueden acreditarse para la 16ª sesión de la Conferencia de las Partes (COP 16) de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD).  La conferencia tendrá lugar del 2 al 13 de diciembre de 2024 en Boulevard Riyadh City, Riad, Arabia Saudí ( Al Imam Saud Ibn Faysal Rd, Hittin, Riad).  Los periodistas pueden solicitar su acreditación a través de nuestro Sistema de Registro en Línea (ORS).  El Sistema de Registro en Línea (ORS) es la única plataforma a través de la cual los medios de comunicación se pueden acreditar para cubrir la COP 16. La secretaría de la CNULD no acepta solicitudes de acreditación por correo electrónico o postal. No se tramitará ningún material enviado fuera del ORS.  Asegúrese de que todos los documentos cumplen los requisitos especificados y de que los datos del solicitante son coherentes a lo largo de la solicitud. Tenga en cuenta que la participación está moderada y que todas las inscripciones deben ser aprobadas.  Por favor, consulte de forma regular su cuenta ORS: podría recibir peticiones de documentación o información adicionales que son necesarias para confirmar su solicitud. Una vez finalizado el proceso, se le enviará un Formulario de Confirmación de Inscripción.  Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en ponerse en contacto con nosotros a través de su cuenta de inscripción en línea o en press@unccd.int  A su debido tiempo se publicarán más detalles en nuestro sitio web. 

La secretaría de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CLD) saluda atentamente a la Embajada y tiene el honor de informar que el decimosexto período de sesiones de la Conferencia de las Partes (COP16), el vigésimo segundo período de sesiones del Comité para La Revisión de la Implementación de la Convención (CRIC22) y la decimosexta sesión del Comité de Ciencia y Tecnología (CST16) de la CLD se llevarán a cabo en Riad, en Al Imam Saud Ibn Faysal Rd, Hittin, Reino de Arabia Saudita, del 2 al 13 de diciembre de 2024. La secretaría de la CLD tiene el honor de invitar al gobierno de su país a participar en la CP16 bajo el tema general “Nuestra tierra, nuestro futuro”.Las consultas regionales de los países Partes afectados de los anexos de implementación regional de la Convención para África, Asia, América Latina y el Caribe, el Mediterráneo norte y los países Partes de Europa central y oriental en preparación para la CP16 se convocarán en dos periodos: una serie de reuniones se llevará a cabo en las regiones durante septiembre y octubre y la segunda serie de reuniones tendrá lugar en Riad antes de la sesión del 30 de noviembre al 1 de diciembre de 2024, en el mismo lugar. Para las reuniones de consulta regional, se enviarán invitaciones e información específicas a las diferentes regiones.Al inicio del período de sesiones, los días 2 y 3 de diciembre, se organizará un segmento de alto nivel [1] que incluirá una Cumbre de Líderes. El Reino de Arabia Saudita está trabajando estrechamente con la Secretaría y numerosos socios para implementar una ambiciosa Agenda de Acción de Riad, que incluirá días temáticos para crear conciencia y ampliar las soluciones transformadoras. Durante los días temáticos se llevarán a cabo varios eventos paralelos y eventos oficiales de alto nivel en diferentes formatos, incluidos diálogos interactivos de alto nivel, mesas redondas ministeriales y eventos especiales. Toda la información específica sobre los días temáticos y los eventos estará disponible en: https://www.unccd.int/cop16.Los diálogos interactivos de alto nivel centrados en los temas (a) sistemas agroalimentarios, (b) gobernanza de la tierra y (c) ciencia, innovación y tecnología tendrán lugar entre los días comprendidos entre el 5 y el 9 de diciembre de 2024. Asimismo, entre los días 10 y 11 de diciembre de 2024 se celebrarán los diálogos ministeriales sobre resiliencia a la sequía y financiación.Durante el segmento inicial, del 2 al 6 de diciembre, además de las sesiones del CCT16 y CRIC22, el Comité Plenario (COW) iniciará su trabajo. Para garantizar la eficacia de la participación de la sociedad civil en las deliberaciones de la CP se han planificado dos medias jornadas de sesiones de diálogo abierto las mañanas del 5 y 9 de diciembre.Durante este segmento final, la CP considerará todas las decisiones no adoptadas previamente. Decidirá, entre otras cosas, la fecha y el lugar de celebración del 23º período de sesiones del CRIC, teniendo en cuenta la decisión 13/COP.13 sobre el mandato del CRIC, sus operaciones y su calendario de reuniones, así como cualquier decisión ulterior sobre la cuestión examinada durante el actual período de sesiones.La Secretaría y la presidencia entrante reconocen la importancia de los enfoques que abarcan a todo el gobierno y a toda la sociedad y acogen con agrado la inclusión de representantes de organizaciones de jóvenes, mujeres y organizaciones de la sociedad civil, así como de pueblos indígenas y comunidades locales, del sector privado, del mundo académico y de gobiernos locales, entre otros, como parte de su delegación.Todas las embajadas de las Partes y el PFN de la CLDPara ayudar a las delegaciones a prepararse para la conferencia, en el sitio web de la CLD[2] está disponible un programa provisional, así como documentos pertinentes para el período de sesiones, incluido el documento “Información para los participantes” (ICCD/COP(16)/INF.1).Se solicita que los representantes de las Partes en la Convención reciban plenos poderes para participar en el período de sesiones, incluida la posibilidad de actuar como funcionarios de la CP16 y sus órganos subsidiarios, así como de cualquier comité, grupo de trabajo u órgano subsidiario del período de sesiones establecido por la Conferencia.La secretaría de la CLD desea recordar que, de conformidad con el artículo 19 del reglamento de la Conferencia de las Partes, las credenciales de las delegaciones serán expedidas por el jefe de Estado o de Gobierno o por el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores o, en el caso de una organización de integración económica regional, por la autoridad competente de esa organización. Se ruega a las Partes que cumplan con este requisito.Se recalca a los Estados que no son Partes en el momento de la CP16 que, de conformidad con el artículo 22, párrafo 7 de la Convención y el artículo 7 del reglamento de la Conferencia de las Partes, cualquier órgano u organismo, ya sea nacional o internacional, gubernamental o no gubernamental, que esté calificado en las materias cubiertas por la Convención y que haya informado a la Secretaría Permanente de su deseo de estar representado en una sesión de la Conferencia de las Partes en calidad de observador, podrá ser admitido a menos que, como mínimo, un tercio de las Partes presentes en la sesión se opongan.Tenga en cuenta también que la CP16 será una sesión sin papel. En consecuencia, los documentos oficiales previos a las sesiones de la COP16/CRIC22/CST16 estarán disponibles en el sitio web de la CLD y en la aplicación de la Conferencia de la CLD. Los documentos oficiales preparados en la sesión también se publicarán en el sitio web y en la aplicación de la Conferencia. Se pueden imprimir cantidades limitadas únicamente bajo demanda.La Secretaría agradecería que el gobierno de su país tuviera la amabilidad de designar a los representantes que asistirán a la CP16. La inscripción en línea estará disponible a partir del 15 de julio de 2024 en el siguiente enlace: https://indico.un.org/e/unccd-cop16. Todos los participantes deberán subir una carta de nominación oficial que confirme su capacidad para asistir a la sesión de la COP16. Para obtener más información sobre la inscripción en línea, consulte el documento “Información para los participantes” (ICCD/COP(16)/INF.1).La Secretaría desea recalcar que son los participantes los responsables de obtener sus propios visados, reservas de hotel y cualquier tipo de seguro médico o de otro tipo que puedan necesitar. Si bien la Secretaría ayudará con la emisión de notas verbales, los participantes que requieran visas deben obtenerlas en las Embajadas o Consulados de Arabia Saudita en su país antes de su salida a Riad.La secretaría de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación aprovecha la oportunidad para renovar a la Embajada, su más distinguida consideración.[1] La información sobre el segmento de alto nivel se incluirá en el documento ICCD/COP(16)/INF.2 y estará disponible en el sitio web de la CLD.[2] Para más información visitar el link: https://www.unccd.int/cop16/official-documents    

On behalf of the UNCCD, I welcome the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation to further align our efforts to provide quality water for all. At UNCCD, we are particularly focusing on ensuring the availability of water through one of the planet’s most important natural assets: our land. Land is a natural ally in our drive to secure quality water supplies. Yet up to 40% of our planet’s land is already degraded, affecting nearly half of the world’s population. Meanwhile, global freshwater demand is on track to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, putting societies, economies, and ecosystems on the line. In this context, we cannot afford to continue taking our land and its crucial role in the provision of clean water, food and energy for granted.   Healthy lands are better at filtrating water, allowing aquifers to recharge, retaining soil moisture, and even supporting cloud formation!   Additionally, healthy lands reduce water runoff, erosion and the risk of floods, which can trigger serious sanitation and public health problems and, tragically, loss of life.   We tend to think of drought as the absence of rain. But often, it is also the result of poor land management, meaning we are only as resilient to climate change--and its impacts on water quality and availability--as our land is. Addressing water and land management as part of drought resilience policies is therefore critical. The new UN System-wide strategy is an opportunity to recognize this vital connection between water and land and to put in place the right policies, incentives and investments to secure these precious resources for present and future generations. 

Central Asia is a region confronting complex challenges related to land degradation, heightened vulnerability to impacts of climate variability and change including natural hazards and issues related to jobs and fragility. Land degradation has vast economic costs for the region, where it costs, on average, five percent of Central Asia’s GDPInvesting in landscape restoration is critical to address the complex nexus of local livelihoods, land degradation, climate change, environmental security and economic growth. A regional program aligned with a shared vision is the most effective approach to making a sustainable difference in the Central Asia region. With border areas representing hotspots for land degradation and poverty, addressing regionality aspects and building resilience to fragility in border regions are crucial. This includes establishing peace parks, undertaking joint dialogue on regional policies, regional knowledge generation and sharing, and supporting youth with access to jobs.The World Bank's flagship $256 million Central Asia Resilient Landscapes Restoration Program RESILAND CA has supported the development of projects in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and  Turkmenistan. RESILAND CA aims to address land degradation and bolster resilience to climate change in targeted degraded transboundary landscapes across Central Asia by developing analytics, providing advisory services and supporting investment projects to restore the region's degraded landscapes investing in the  resilience of ecosystems, infrastructure and people. RESILAND CA takes an integrated approach to sustainable land management, addressing common challenges across various land uses, including restoring degraded forests, pastures and mountain areas prone to mudflows. These actions are pursued through transboundary landscape restoration interventions in fragile border regions and regional policies to govern them.The $6 million RESILAND Kazakhstan, $52 million RESILAND Kyrgyz Republic, $45 million RESILAND Tajikistan and $153 million RESILAND Uzbekistan national projects work toward tangible and sustainable results on the ground especially in border areas as these are most impacted by land degradation,  direct benefits to transboundary ecosystem, infrastructure and communities living in the border areas. They serve as effective and replicable models at a global level for addressing national and regional land degradation, building resilience to climate change  and improving livelihoods. Specific interventions include:Implementing private sector, community- and farmer-centered landscape restoration using drought-resistant species of trees and shrubsMonitoring climate-change induced hazards and investing in nature-based, green and grey solutions to mitigate impacts of mudflows and floodsPromoting ecotourism and engaging communities in afforestation efforts, rehabilitating degraded natural habitats and protective infrastructureSupporting communities in diversifying economic activities to reduce pressure on pastures and forests.Developing skills with youth and creating jobsIn Turkmenistan, the World Bank is completing "Climate adaptation in Turkmenistan: Landscape restoration opportunities" study to identify hotspots of land degradation and declining  productivity along with adaptation opportunities where landscape restoration can best reverse these trends under changing climate conditions. Calling for increased financing for landscape adaptation and restoration initiatives, the study confirms that it costs less to fund land restoration interventions rather than deal with the economic costs of inaction.Recognizing that nature, landscapes and ecosystems know no borders, RESILAND CA fosters regional collaboration across Central Asia's shared borders and ecosystems. This contributes to improved connectivity of natural resources and increased greenhouse gas mitigation and greater resilience to impacts of climate change. The program also contributes to establishing jointly managed transboundary protected areas and peace parks to preserve biodiversity across transboundary corridors and strengthen regional collaboration on landscape restoration.As part of the UNCCD Peace Forest Initiative PFI, RESILAND CA unites Central Asian countries and communities across national borders to restore degraded landscapes and ecosystems and to manage forests, lands, soil and water. Through strengthened transboundary cooperation in restoring landscapes and building climate resilience as a cornerstone of food, water and energy security, RESILAND CA aims to reduce fragility of border areas and improve livelihoods of border communities RESILAND CA supports technical assistance, funded by GEF, Korea-World Bank Group Partnership Facility and PROGREEN and an investment program that national governments implement with low-interest financing from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and recipient executed trust funds. Participating countries also support complementary regional activities to advance dialogue, knowledge generation and sharing and collaboration among Central Asian countries.The Peace Forest Initiative is a global flagship programme of the UNCCD, highlighting the nexus between land, peace and security Sustainable Development Goals 15 and 16. PFI brings together stakeholders and partners to catalyze transboundary cooperation on ecosystem restoration with a view to building confidence and peace. It unites communities across national borders to jointly manage their land resources and ecosystems for a peaceful future. PFI has been launched in 2019 with the support of Parties to the UNCCD to assist countries affected by fragility or conflict through cooperation with their neighbors to rehabilitate and restore degraded lands, soil, water, forests and other ecosystems.