Other meetings & events

UNCCD, in partnership with Adelphi Research, will host a conversation on land restoration and security, where experts and decision-makers will explore the role of land restoration in fostering community resilience and transboundary cooperation. The session on 16 February at 11:30 will explore the recent “Ground for Peace” report on the Peace Forest Initiative, addressing the role of land and related natural resources to the issues of security and peace. The session will highlight innovative approaches to promote sustainable land management for cross-border collaboration. More details here.

The Science-Policy Interface Day at COP 16 was dedicated to fostering dialogue among scientists, policymakers and practitioners on addressing desertification, land degradation and drought. The day's focus was on historical and future aridity trends and sustainable land use systems.The event explored two critical dimensions: adapting to aridification and scaling up systems approaches to land use and management. Drawing from recent scientific assessments, the SPI presented findings on aridity trends and their role in climate adaptation, along with strategies for addressing land degradation through sustainable land use systems.Panel discussions and interactive sessions provided a platform for sharing knowledge, case studies and practical solutions. Participants discussed how to scale up effective practices and integrate science into policy, with a focus on fostering collaboration and aligning efforts under the three Rio conventions. Audience engagement was central to ensuring diverse perspectives that contribute to enhancing land resilience to aridity.

STI Day at UNCCD COP16 focused on advancing scientific and technological solutions to support land health and resilient communities. With land degradation escalating, it aimed to bridge science and policy by engaging diverse stakeholders — research institutions, data providers, tech developers and civil society — to drive ambitious, science-based action for sustainable land management.