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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.

Dans la province de Houet, au centre du Burkina Faso, Sanou Fatimata, 43 ans, est une figure clé de l'Association Song Taab Yalgre, une coopérative de karité rassemblant quelque 500 femmes. Avec plus de trois décennies d'expérience dans l'industrie du karité, Fatimata associe parfaitement les méthodes traditionnelles à des pratiques modernes et respectueuses de l'environnement, améliorant ainsi le patrimoine culturel de sa communauté et sa durabilité future. Le groupe de Fatimata est membre de la Global Shea Alliance (GSA), une association industrielle fondée en 2011. Dans le cadre de ses actions en faveur de la durabilité, le GSA apporte son soutien aux coopératives féminines afin de renforcer leur capacité à générer des revenus et, plus important encore, leur résilience. Pour les coopératives de femmes comme Song Taab Yalgre, le karité, connu sous le nom de ‘shi bha’ qui signifie ‘vie’ dans la langue Dioula, joue un rôle essentiel dans l’amélioration des moyens de subsistance. Des membres de la coopérative collectent les fruits du karité Ces noix, qui sont transformées en beurre de karité utilisé dans la cuisine, la médecine et les cosmétiques, représentent une importante source de revenus dans la région du Sahel. Traditionnellement, les femmes comme Fatimata transforment les noix de karité manuellement. Cela implique de recueillir d’abord les noix, de les transporter chez soi pour les faire bouillir et les sécher, puis de les écraser et de les mouler manuellement. Les noix sont ensuite broyées pour extraire l'huile, qui à son tour est chauffée et bouillie afin d’obtenir le produit final, le beurre de karité. Le beurre de karité est principalement consommé à la maison, mais il est également commercialisé localement ou à l'international, ce qui génère des revenus pour le foyer. De nombreuses femmes choisissent également de vendre les noix bouillies et séchées directement aux acheteurs,  qui se retrouvent ensuite en majorité dans des produits alimentaires ou cosmétiques à travers le monde. Il s’agit aussi d’une autre activité importante permettant de générer des revenus, surtout si les femmes collaborent dans une coopérative, où elles ont la possibilité de vendre des quantités importantes à un prix négocié. Les méthodes traditionnelles se mêlent à des pratiques respectueuses de l'environnement pour une production durable Ces dernières années, le nombre de karités a considérablement diminué, avec environ 8 millions de pertes chaque année. Différents éléments expliquent ce déclin, tels que la coupe d'arbres pour le bois de chauffe et l'agriculture mécanisée, ainsi que la baisse de la replantation en raison de facteurs culturels et de la longue période de croissance du karité. Cette diminution du nombre de karités a des conséquences sur le développement économique rural et l'autonomisation des femmes. La disponibilité du karité est menacée pour répondre à une demande croissante. Par ailleurs, le changement climatique affecte de manière disproportionnée les communautés vivant du karité, avec des températures extrêmes et des événements climatiques qui altèrent le paysage et impactent les rendements agricoles. En offrant une formation exhaustive sur la gestion durable du karité, en mettant l'accent sur la conservation, il est possible de garantir la disponibilité à long terme les ressources en karité, permettant de bénéficier non seulement aux récoltants actuels, mais également aux générations futures. Le groupe de Fatimata est membre de la Global Shea Alliance Début 2024, le GSA a lancé le projet « Inverser la dégradation des terres dans les communautés du karité » au Mali et au Burkina Faso, financé par la Coopération autrichienne pour le développement par l'intermédiaire de la Convention des Nations Unies sur la lutte contre la désertification (CNULCD). Le projet met l'accent sur la restauration des terres et l'amélioration des moyens de subsistance grâce à l'agroforesterie régénérative du karité pour accroître les revenus liés au karité. Le projet a pour objectif d'améliorer le revenu et la nutrition de 2 500 femmes récoltantes et de restaurer 150 hectares de terres agricoles et communautaires grâce à des pratiques agroforestières et à la plantation d'arbres à karité. Les femmes prévoient également de diversifier leurs activités au-delà de la production du beurre de karité pour inclure des cultures telles que le moringa, le baobab et le fonio. Pour aider à ces activités, le projet permettra l'accès à l'eau par le biais de l'installation de forages, et des tricycles seront fournis pour une plus grande efficacité. « Les activités du projet auront un grand impact sur la communauté. Ces forages profiteront à la fois à la coopérative et à la communauté et nous permettront de cultiver en dehors de la saison. Les légumes et le fonio récoltés seront en partie destinés à la consommation et en partie au marché local, ce qui augmentera nos revenus financiers. Nous pourrons aussi vendre les fruits du baobab et le moringa quand ils seront mûrs. J'attends avec impatience la mise en œuvre des activités et je suis déterminée à la réussite du projet", a déclaré Somda Leocadie, membre d'une des coopératives féminines du Burkina Faso. Malgré des défis tels que les conditions météorologiques de plus en plus difficiles et les fluctuations du marché, les coopératives, y compris l'association de Fatimata, montrent une résilience remarquable, renforcée par la formation continue en agriculture durable et en gestion financière. Ensemble, elles envisagent faire de leurs communautés des modèles de croissance durable et un avenir meilleur pour le Sahel. Fotos: ULPKS – YIRIWASSO Cooperative.

Land degradation is one of the key triggers of migration in Central Asia, confirms a new study released by UNCCD this month. In the region where drought and desertification cause annual losses of about USD 6 billion, the number of people who migrate each year in search of work amounts to 2.5–4.3 million, or 10-15% of the economically active population. The findings of the study became the focus of an online discussion hosted by the convention, inviting authors and contributors from Central Asia, representatives of partner organizations and over 100 virtual attendees who could contribute to the discussion via an online chat. Remarking on the timeliness of the new study, the UNCCD Chief of Global Policy Advocacy and Regional Cooperation Unit Miriam Medel García emphasized that the project has been requested by the countries of Central Asia – Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – to aid in the implementation of the Convention and to demonstrate how measures addressing desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) can support more positive and organized migration flows. Expressing sincere appreciation for the support of the Russian Federation in financing the study, Ms. Medel remarked that its conclusions and policy recommendations, while specifically targeted in Central Asia, are also applicable to any country seeking to overcome the challenges of DLDD by creating safely nets for vulnerable rural populations through land-based green growth and sustainable value chains. Welcoming the study, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Vladimir Uskov remarked on the key role of UNCCD as the leading international mechanism for addressing DLDD – the issue that affects the entire region and needs to be addressed at the regional level. He noted that the study helps better understand the complex relationships between many factors that contribute to land degradation, climate change and migration in Central Asia. He expressed hope that the study will also contribute to the work of the interregional group launched at UNCCD COP14 to facilitate the implementation of the Convention, and confirmed the willingness of the Russian Federation to further contribute support and scientific expertise. In their detailed presentations, the authors of the study called attention to land degradation as a “quiet” planetary crisis, whose effects are devastating and wide-spread. Using latest land degradation assessment tools authored by the UNCCD, they identified the main hot spots of land and water crises in the region. As climate change manifests itself through more frequent and prolonged droughts, combined with anthropogenic pressures, the resulting decrease in land productivity and loss of income leads to migration in search of livelihood. The study highlights that while the economies of both the source and receiving countries rely on migrant workers, the income of migrants remains highly vulnerable, as became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, money earned by migrants does not support future security – 98% of what migrants earn is spent on everyday expenses, with almost nothing into savings or investments, not to mention the practices of sustainable land use. Both representatives of the Central Asian countries and international organizations – IOM, FAO, UNDP and CAREC – that provided extensive inputs into the study, also stressed the need for further scientific collaboration for knowledge sharing on sustainable land management. The new study reveals that the widespread adoption of effective land use approaches that already exist across the ­­region depends on creating financing opportunities for farmers and improving knowledge-sharing. Long-term investments are needed to fundamentally improve the state of agricultural land and to make agricultural work more attractive, particularly to youth, through development and implementation of sustainable land use models and land-based climate adaptation technologies that require advanced skills and higher levels of education. To ensure that the results of the study have a real impact, helping improve living standards and productivity in the agricultural sector while regulating migration, the authors proposed further research, where sustainable land management practices in the region would be assessed using a variety of efficiency indicators, such as the size of the restored land area, water and energy efficiency, social satisfaction, gender equity and improved living standards. The authors believe that the main criterion of resilience and effectiveness of each model of sustainable land use, especially under the conditions of climate change, should be the potential to achieve land degradation neutrality.

Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy of India has been appointed as the Director of the Coordination Office of the G20 Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats based at UNCCD headquarters in Bonn, Germany. Dr. Thummarukudy brings to this position over three decades of progressive senior management experience and technical expertise in land restoration issues. He has most recently served as the acting Head of the Disasters and Conflicts Programme at the United Nations Environment Programme, where he implemented a portfolio of over 100 million USD, focusing on ecosystem-based disaster reduction and partnership development. An internationally renowned expert in disaster response, he played a key role in addressing the environmental aftermath of many major conflicts and disasters, implementing projects in over 35 countries. Prior to joining the United Nations, Dr. Thummarukudy served as Environmental Advisor to Shell Group in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. He was also a Beahr’s fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Thummarukudy is also a well-known author in his native Malayalam language.

Healthy land is an integral part of planetary well-being, which supports and sustains societies and ecosystems. Loss of healthy land threatens our health, security and prosperity, driving the interconnected crises of desertification, drought, biodiversity collapse and climate change. Land restoration offers a effective and efficient nature-based solution to address the world’s biggest challenges and achieve Sustainable Development Goals. The Changwon Initiative, launched at UNCCD COP10 in Changwon, the Republic of Korea, aims to assist countries in linking policy and action to protect and restore degraded lands. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Initiative, UNCCD and the Korea Forest Service are launching a global virtual choir competition to promote land and forest restoration. The application deadline is 17 April 2022. Winners will be announced at the anniversary ceremony of the Initiative in the sidelines of UNCCD COP15 in May 2022 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and will receive cash and other prizes. Learn more: How to apply UNCCD COP15

The "Sustainability, Stability and Security" (3S) Initiative is an inter-governmental action launched by Morocco and Senegal to address the root causes of instability in Africa – in particular migration and conflict related to the degradation of natural resources – through an innovative approach.