Annex II: Asia

Alors que la dégradation des terres, la sécheresse et la pénurie d’eau s’intensifient dans de nombreuses régions du monde, les pays recherchent de plus en plus des solutions pour restaurer les écosystèmes, renforcer les systèmes alimentaires, protéger les moyens de subsistance et accroître leur résilience.

 À l’heure où les pressions sur les terres, les systèmes alimentaires et les ressources en eau s’intensifient à l’échelle mondiale, les préparatifs de la dix-septième session de la Conférence des Parties (COP17) à la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (CNULCD) entrent dans une phase décisive. À l’occasion d’une visite de deux jours à Oulan-Bator, la Secrétaire exécutive de la CNULCD, Yasmine Fouad, s’est entretenue avec les autorités mongoles afin de faire avancer les préparatifs de la COP17, qui se tiendra dans la capitale mongole du 17 au 28 août 2026 sous le thème « Restaurer les terres, restaurer l’espoir ». Cette dynamique s’inscrit dans un contexte de pressions mondiales croissantes sur les terres et les ressources naturelles. Jusqu’à 40 % des terres de la planète sont déjà dégradées, compromettant la production alimentaire, la disponibilité de l’eau et les moyens de subsistance. Parallèlement, les sécheresses ont augmenté de près d’un tiers depuis 2000, accentuant la pression sur les communautés, en particulier dans les zones arides où les populations dépendent directement de la santé des terres pour leur survie. À elle seule, la sécheresse coûte déjà à l’économie mondiale au moins 300 milliards de dollars par an, avec des répercussions en cascade sur les systèmes alimentaires, les chaînes d’approvisionnement et les moyens de subsistance. Du défi mondial à la réalité nationale En Mongolie, ces enjeux sont bien concrets. Près de 77 % des terres sont touchées par la dégradation, tandis que la fréquence accrue des sécheresses, suivies d’hivers rigoureux, exerce une pression croissante sur les moyens de subsistance pastoraux, pilier de l’économie et mode de vie pour environ un tiers de la population. Ces pressions reflètent des tendances mondiales plus larges. Les parcours, qui couvrent plus de la moitié des terres émergées et font vivre près de deux milliards de personnes, subissent une pression croissante liée au changement climatique et à des modes d’utilisation non durables, avec jusqu’à la moitié déjà dégradée ou menacée. La baisse de la fertilité des sols, la diminution de la capacité de rétention d’eau et la dégradation des écosystèmes affectent déjà la production alimentaire, les revenus et la résilience. Dans le même temps, des réponses se mettent en place. Des initiatives nationales en matière de restauration des terres, de gestion des parcours et de systèmes d’élevage durables contribuent à relever ces défis, tout en démontrant que durabilité environnementale et résilience économique peuvent aller de pair. Une conférence tournée vers les résultats Les discussions lors de la visite ont porté à la fois sur l’organisation de la COP17 et sur la nécessité d’en garantir des résultats concrets et mesurables. Cela implique notamment d’accroître les investissements dans la restauration des terres et la résilience face à la sécheresse, de renforcer les systèmes alimentaires durables et de soutenir les communautés en première ligne de la dégradation des terres. « Des terres en bonne santé constituent le fondement de la sécurité alimentaire, des moyens de subsistance et de la stabilité », a déclaré la Secrétaire exécutive de la CNULCD, Dr Yasmine Fouad. « Les préparatifs de la COP17 entrent désormais dans une phase décisive. Avec la Mongolie, nous travaillons à faire en sorte que la conférence produise des résultats concrets, qu’il s’agisse d’intensifier les investissements dans la restauration des terres et la résilience face à la sécheresse, de renforcer les systèmes alimentaires ou de soutenir les communautés les plus vulnérables. » Les autorités mongoles ont également souligné leur engagement en faveur du développement vert et leur volonté de faire de la COP17 une opportunité pour renforcer l’action aux niveaux national et mondial. « La désertification est devenue un enjeu qui affecte le cadre de vie de chaque citoyen de notre pays. Le Gouvernement mongol fera du développement vert une priorité nationale. Nous soumettrons une loi sur le changement climatique au Grand Khoural d’État (Parlement). Nous porterons notre politique de développement vert sur la scène internationale, attirerons des investissements et créerons de nouvelles opportunités. Nous accélérerons également le développement des infrastructures et des projets », a déclaré UchralNyam-Osor, Premier ministre de Mongolie. Pourquoi c’est important aujourd’hui La dégradation des terres et la sécheresse sont de plus en plus perçues comme des facteurs multiplicateurs de risques. Elles exacerbent la concurrence pour les terres et l’eau, fragilisent les moyens de subsistance et peuvent contribuer aux déplacements de population et à l’instabilité. Dans de nombreuses régions du monde, ces pressions sont déjà liées à une insécurité alimentaire croissante et à des tensions sociales et économiques accrues. Lorsque les terres ne peuvent plus subvenir aux besoins des communautés, les répercussions se font sentir à tous les niveaux, des moyens de subsistance locaux à la stabilité nationale. Leurs effets dépassent largement le seul cadre environnemental, influençant les systèmes alimentaires, la résilience économique et la cohésion sociale, en particulier dans les régions déjà fragilisées. Répondre à ces défis n’est donc pas seulement une priorité environnementale, mais aussi un enjeu de développement et d’économie. C’est également un investissement dans la stabilité, permettant de réduire la pression sur des ressources limitées, de renforcer les moyens de subsistance et de soutenir des communautés plus résilientes. Perspectives pour la COP17 La COP17 réunira gouvernements, institutions financières, scientifiques, société civile et secteur privé afin d’accélérer l’action en matière de restauration des terres et de résilience face à la sécheresse. Parmi les priorités figurent l’augmentation des financements, le renforcement de la préparation face aux sécheresses, la promotion de la gestion durable des terres et la mise en valeur du rôle des parcours et des communautés pastorales, notamment dans le cadre de l’Année internationale des parcours et des pasteurs en 2026. Première des conférences des Conventions de Rio en 2026, la COP17 intervient à un moment où l’ampleur du défi est évidente, tout comme le coût de l’inaction. L’enjeu est désormais de transformer les engagements en résultats concrets et de faire en sorte que les solutions se traduisent sur le terrain. En Mongolie, où ces défis sont déjà visibles, cette ambition n’a rien d’abstrait. Elle concerne ce qui se passera ensuite et l’héritage d’action que la COP17 laissera. Pour toute demande de médias  Service de presse de la CNULCD : press@unccd.int À propos de la CNULCD   La Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (CNULCD) incarne la vision et la voix mondiales pour les terres. Nous rassemblons les gouvernements, les scientifiques, les décideurs politiques, le secteur privé et les communautés autour d’une vision commune et d’une action mondiale visant à restaurer et à gérer les terres de la planète pour la durabilité de l’humanité et de la planète. Bien plus qu’un traité international signé par 197 Parties, la CNULD est un engagement multilatéral visant à atténuer les impacts actuels de la dégradation des terres et à promouvoir la gestion responsable des terres de demain afin de fournir de la nourriture, de l’eau, un logement et des opportunités économiques à tous, de manière équitable et inclusive. 

On March 26, 2010, a massive dust storm rose from the exposed bed of the South Aral Sea and swept across southern Kazakhstan. Within hours, skies darkened, visibility collapsed and toxic dust blanketed towns and farmland. The storm carried more than just sand and silt—it spread salt, pesticides and heavy metals, the legacy of decades of environmental mismanagement. It disrupted transport, damaged crops and strained hospitals with respiratory cases—highlighting how land degradation can trigger public health emergencies and economic instability.This wasn’t an isolated event. Over the past two decades, sand and dust storms (SDS) in Kazakhstan have grown more frequent and intense, particularly across the Aral Sea Basin and the country’s southern and central regions. What were once seasonal disturbances are now recognized as chronic climate and land-use threats.Sand and dust storms—vast natural phenomena capable of transporting fine particles across borders and continents—pose grave risks to public health, agriculture, infrastructure and national development. They aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, damage crops and livestock and interrupt transport and trade. In Kazakhstan, these storms are primarily driven by land degradation, unsustainable farming, deforestation and climate change—a combination that continues to erode natural resilience.While SDS play a role in global ecological systems—such as fertilizing distant ecosystems like the Amazon—their local impact in Kazakhstan is urgent and deeply disruptive.The Changwon Initiative: Building resilience from the ground upIn response to the growing SDS threat, Kazakhstan turned to partnerships that combined local action with global expertise. One of the most influential has been the Changwon Initiative, launched under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as a key driver of global dryland restoration efforts.Between 2015 and 2017, the Changwon Initiative—through the Greening Drylands Partnership—helped Kazakhstan lay essential groundwork for SDS preparedness. Though originally aimed at enhancing drought resilience, the project quickly evolved to address overlapping environmental risks. In the Makhtaral and Shardara districts, the initiative strengthened early warning systems, raised awareness among farmers and herders and supported climate risk assessments. Over 140 sustainable land management practices were identified and promoted, including the restoration of 64 hectares of degraded dryland. These measures didn’t just address symptoms—they helped local communities build long-term resilience to future storms.Advancing forecasting and preparednessBuilding on earlier progress, Kazakhstan has significantly expanded its SDS forecasting and preparedness systems. In collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization’s Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS), the country now uses integrated regional and global forecasting models that provide SDS predictions every three hours, with up to 72 hours of lead time.Improved forecasting helps farmers protect crops, health agencies prepare for respiratory surges and officials respond with faster, data-driven decisions. Kazakhstan’s active participation in the SDS-WAS Asia Regional Centre has also enhanced regional cooperation, particularly with China, Mongolia, Japan and Korea, through data exchange and collaborative research.From reactive to proactive: A shift in national strategyPerhaps the most transformative outcome has been the shift in national mindset—from reacting to each storm to anticipating and managing risk. SDS are now integrated into broader climate adaptation and sustainable land use policies and early warnings are reaching more rural communities.Farmers, local officials and frontline workers are increasingly adopting practical mitigation strategies—from planting vegetation that stabilizes soil, to modifying planting schedules based on storm forecasts.The Changwon Initiative’s contribution goes beyond project outcomes: it has helped embed environmental risk reduction into Kazakhstan’s long-term development planning.A Scalable example for the regionKazakhstan’s efforts show what’s possible when scientific forecasting, policy innovation and local action work in concert. While climate change and land degradation continue to fuel SDS across Central Asia, Kazakhstan is charting a course toward resilience. What began with emergency response—like that triggered by the 2010 dust storm—has evolved into a national model for proactive environmental management. With ongoing backing — including from the Changwon Initiative — Kazakhstan’s approach offers a practical, scalable model for other dryland countries. It shows that early warning, land restoration and local engagement are not only feasible but essential to safeguarding lives, livelihoods and development in vulnerable landscapes.

In Kyrgyzstan, where steep mountains and deep valleys define both the landscape and daily life, land degradation and drought are no longer distant threats — they’re reshaping everyday reality. These slow-onset crises erode not just soil and biodiversity, but the livelihoods and resilience of rural communities whose well-being depends on healthy land.Today, nearly 1.9 million people — or 35.5 per cent of the population — are directly exposed to land degradation. In 2019 alone, 1.83 million hectares of land were classified as degraded, accounting for nearly one-tenth of Kyrgyzstan’s total land area.While many countries face similar threats, Kyrgyzstan’s high-altitude terrain and dependence on pastoralism make it particularly vulnerable. In recent years, climate variability has intensified pressure on natural resources, disrupting crop yields, altering grazing patterns and straining water supplies across rural areas.Between 2018 and 2021, the Greening Drylands Partnership (GDP) launched a major effort to restore Kyrgyzstan’s fragile landscapes. It aimed to breathe new life into degraded ecosystems, protect biodiversity and help communities adapt to a changing climate. But with mounting deforestation, shrinking grasslands and escalating climate impacts, the challenge proved anything but simple.The Changwon Initiative: A driving force for land restorationThe Changwon Initiative — a flagship programme of the Korea Forest Service and the UNCCD — helped turn restoration from vision to reality. It became a regional catalyst for action, supporting land restoration not only in Kyrgyzstan, but also across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Armenia and Mongolia.In Kyrgyzstan, the Changwon Initiative aligned restoration efforts with national environmental goals and long-term sustainability. It ensured that recovery initiatives were not isolated projects, but part of a broader, coordinated vision for change. By bringing together governments, non-governmental organizations and international partners, it laid the groundwork for meaningful, lasting action on the ground.Planting the seeds of changeFrom 2019 to 2022, one of the most impactful efforts under this partnership was a community-focused reforestation project supporting rural and forestry nurseries. The aim was both simple and ambitious: to plant trees, raise awareness and build skills that would last well beyond the project’s end.Four nurseries were established in the Chui and Talas regions, covering a total of eight hectares. They became home to a range of fruit and ornamental trees — not just to green the land, but to promote sustainable farming and land use.Farmers and forestry workers received practical training in nursery management, pest control and pruning — blending scientific techniques with local traditions.The project didn’t stop with adults. Twenty-four school-based nurseries were also created, inviting the next generation to become caretakers of the land. Young people across Kyrgyzstan engaged directly with their environment, taking part in reforestation — one sapling at a time.To expand impact beyond the project sites, a national UNCCD information center helped disseminate tools and insights across the country, while roundtables shaped new policy recommendations for sustainable land management.Tools for long-term restorationThe project went beyond planting trees. It provided communities with the tools to understand and protect their environment long after the initial phase ended. Risk assessment maps identified areas most vulnerable to land degradation. Restoration activities were aligned with national policies and embedded in the broader Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) framework.Most importantly, people were placed at the center — not just involved but empowered. From farmers to students, local communities became stewards of their own recovery.While these efforts planted the seeds of progress, scaling up to achieve nationwide transformation is the next frontier. Moving beyond pilot projects will require sustained investment, stronger institutions and continued commitment from both governments and civil society. Sharing lessons regionally — from Mongolia to Belarus — will be key to ensuring success beyond borders.In countries like Belarus, restoration projects are already entering their second phase. Kyrgyzstan now stands ready to do the same — the foundation is solid, the knowledge is growing and community engagement is real. What’s needed next is a renewed investment in people, supportive policies and the natural systems that sustain life.A growing legacyWith support from the Changwon Initiative, Kyrgyzstan has taken meaningful steps toward restoring its land — and its future. Skills have been strengthened, forests are returning and a new understanding is taking root: land restoration is not only possible, but essential.Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment, Kyrgyzstan is proving that degraded land can recover — and that when the land heals, so do the communities that depend on it. Healthier ecosystems, more resilient livelihoods and a renewed bond between people and nature — this isn’t just an ideal. It’s a future already beginning to take shape.

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

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