Stories

Mirova, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers dedicated to responsible investing, has entered into negotiations with Althelia Ecosphere to become the European leader in natural capital investing The projected acquisition of Althelia Ecosphere (“Althelia”) by Mirova is intended to create a European platform dedicated to natural capital investing and give investors access to investment solutions addressing major global environmental challenges such as climate change, protection of landscapes, biodiversity, soil and marine resources. This would be a great addition to Mirova's existing project finance capabilities as well as the environmental, social, and supply chain experts already involved in the LDN Fund project. Since 2015 and as part of its commitment to increase financing for the Sustainable Development Goals, Mirova has been working alongside the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to launch the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund project, a public-private vehicle that intends to invest in profit-generating sustainable land management and restoration projects worldwide. Read press release by Mirova/Natixis/Althelia Ecosphere

65 cartoons from 42 cartoonist from 13 countries have been received on the occasion of the International press cartoon contest organized in parallel to Désertif'actions 2017 Summit. The jury composed of personalities from media, artistic and graphic jobs, cartoonists and organizers, selected 33 cartoons which will be exhibited at Strasbourg’s city hall from the 26th to the 30th of June 2017. The jury designated three winners and a special jury distinction : • First prize: « Land, water, colours ». Manfruelli BATTI, alias BATTI, France • Second prize ex-aequo : « Still life » Guy BADEAUX, Canada • Second prize ex-aequo : « A new Angelus » Robert ROUSSO, France • Special jury prize, « Young distinction » : « Ultimate borders » Noha BAFOIL, France  More information on www.desertif-actions.fr  Information on the jury composition ·         Phil Umbdenstock (cartoonist and president of the jury) ·         United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification : Marcos Montoiro ·         Representative of the city of Strasbourg : Julien Chiappone Lucchesi ·         CARI representative and initiator of Desertif’actions : Patrice Burger ·         Climate Chance representative : Bernard Soulage ·         Cartoonists networks : Pierre Ballouhey (Cartoonists French Federation) ·         Strasbourg arts and culture representatives : Thérèse Willer (Tomi Ungerer Museum) and Jean Charles Andrieu de Lewis (HEAR) ·         Written press : Dominique Jung (Dernières nouvelles d’Alsace)

The global observance of the World Day to Combat Desertification took place on Thursday, 15 June 2017 at the Centre des Conférences de Ouaga 2000, in Ouagadogou, Burkina Faso. Over 400 international and local participants attended the ceremonies including Presidents, ministers and high-ranking officials, and Cardinal and Archbishop of Ouagadougou.  This was the first time high-ranking officials drawn from Africa’s foreign affairs, environment and interior ministries have met jointly to find solutions to Africa’s growing challenge of rural youth unemployment that is driving distress migration and radicalization of disillusioned young men. Read more Global Observance in Burkina Faso 2017 World Day to Combat Desertification   For media Press release (16 June 2017) English   French   Spanish Media advisory English  French Spanish Press release (9 February 2017) English  French  Spanish CALL FOR ACTION/ L'APPEL A l'ACTION DE OUAGADOUGOU English  French  Photos courtesy of NEPAD/Teko Nhlapo

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s Land for Life Award is dedicated to recognizing individuals, groups, organizations and businesses for their outstanding work on conserving and protecting land resources to achieve sustainable developmental goals. The winners of 2017 Land for Life Award were announced at World Day to Combat Desertification Global Observance event on 15 June in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.  Approximately 400 participants attended the event hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Green Economy and Climate Change.   This year, with the theme “Land and Human Security”, Watershed Organization Trust (India) and UN Environment and Practical Action Sudan (South Sudan) were awarded the 2017 Land for Life Award. The winners have demonstrated tangible evidence of transforming lives of communities who suffered from the impacts of degraded land. At the same occasion, Ms. Yingzhen Pan, the Director General of National Bureau to Combat Desertification of State Forestry Administration was given the 2017 Land for Life China Award for the recognition of her achievement in combating desertification and restoring the Three North Regions Shelterbelts for over 30 years. Ms. Florencia Escudero Fonseca received a special mention for her inspiring leadership and dedicated support to communities to restore degraded land in Spain. The Award giving ceremony will take place during the 6th Kubuqi International Desert Forum in Ordos, China, which is scheduled from 28-30 July 2017. For mores stories and details about winners, see the announcement. 

The UNCCD and UNFCCC country Parties, civil society, partners got together to reflect on how to connect the dots between the challenging agendas on climate and land. Working lunch, “Why land degradation neutrality matters for climate?” was held on 16 May in Bonn. The event was organized by the UNCCD, the UNFCCC and the Government of the Republic of Korea. The panelists were representatives from Dominican Republic, Ghana and Philippines, which are steadily advancing in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The discussion focused on how commitments, policies and implementation under the different frameworks of action of the 3 Rio Conventions can programmatically deliver breaking the silos and fragmented landscape of governance and investments in the context of the SDGs.  The conversation particularly focused on the role of LDN as a powerful tool to deliver multiple benefits, including climate change. “The sustainable management of land and its rehabilitation are key factors for closing the emissions gap and staying within the agreed temperature limit of the Paris Agreement”, stressed Mr. Keum Chang Rok, Consul General of the Korean Government.  Mr. Pradeep Monga, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, said the importance of land has gained political recognition over the years as championed by countries like the Republic of Korea and others. By quoting a famous proverb, "where there's a will, there's a way," Mr. Monga stressed the clear will of all the stakeholders from the outset for achieving the land degradation neutrality. He further said that now we have found the way to do this effectively and deliver on multiple benefits. To date, 108 countries have committed to translate the global LDN target into country specific actions. A keynote speaker Mr. Kihyun Kim from the Korea Forest Service showcased the success story of forest restoration and the commitment of the Republic of Korea to LDN target setting and implementation through the Changwon Initiative. The Changwon Initiative launched at the UNCCD COP 10 has been essential in defining and testing the LDN concept.   Mr. Asher Nkegbe, from Ghana emphasized that even though agendas such as climate change, reduction of emissions and LDN are “conceptual frameworks” for global action, at local level food security; jobs and livelihoods is what matters. Those are the tangible benefits where the synergies between climate and land action need to deliver effectively.  “The economic argument of land degradation is what mobilizes national politicians”, stressed Mr. Nkegbe.  Mr. Nick Nuttall, Coordinator of Communications and Outreach of the UNFCCC, highlighted that important global transformations have taken place in the last decades such as the penetration of renewable energy. However, more action is still needed in transforming the way we interact with ecosystems at the scale and level required. “The Paris Agreement lays out a long-term destination, which is climate neutrality, an aim which cannot be achieved without also attaining LDN”, said Mr. Nuttall.   Ms. Dominga Polanco and Mr. Samuel Contreras from Dominican Republic and the Philippines coincided in the strong interlinkages between their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets and land, and how LDN represents one of the most cost efficient pathways to deliver on their NDCs and multiple SDGs.  “Sustainable land management to reduce and minimize land degradation is strongly linked to the climate change adaptation and reducing GHG emissions”, stressed Mr. Samuel M. Contreras from the Philippines. The scale of the challenge doesn’t allow us to keep working on silos.  Mr. Markus Repnik, Managing Director of the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD concluded the event, emphasizing that it doesn’t matter whether projects are labeled as climate change or LDN - what matters are the outcomes. It is all about synergies and large-scale transformative projects that bundle resources from different actors. We live in a complex and fragmented development agenda. “We need to connect the dots one by one,” as Mr. Repnik concluded.   

Désertif’actions 2017 (D’a17) is organizing an international competition of cartoons. The competition is open to professional and amateur cartoonists under the theme, “Land degradation and climate: Europe and the world facing the ultimate borders?” The 30 best drawings selected by the jury will be exhibited in Strasbourg before and during Desertif'actions 2017 and can subsequently be used for pedagogical and educational and awareness purposes. There are two prizes awarded by the organizers: The first prize: 750 € The second prize: 350 € In addition to the monetary prize, the winner of the first prize will be invited to Strasbourg in France to attend Desertif'actions 2017 on 27 and 28 June 2017. The prize will be awarded at a ceremony during the meeting. The deadline for submission is 12 June 2017. For more information, visit: www.desertif-actions.fr/en/press-cartoon The contest flyer: English  French