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The Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD has just released a new briefing note that provides recommendations to advance gender equality in land degradation neutrality (LDN) interventions. The note informs policymakers and implementers at all levels on the role they can play in integrating gender equality into LDN-based initiatives.
Today, 113 of the 169 countries affected by land degradation and/or drought have joined the movement to restore degrading land. They include the world’s poorest countries, where a substantial percentage of the extremely land-dependent poor are women.
New Delhi, India – The International Organization for Migration, in partnership with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), today unveiled their new report titled, “Addressing the land degradation-migration nexus,” which explains how land degradation drives migration, and the role the UNCCD is playing to address this challenge. “Migration linked to desertification, land degradation and drought is not an issue of the future – it is our current reality from Africa to Asia, through South America and the Pacific islands. We cannot afford not to take immediate action – otherwise the world will face an immense crisis”, said Mrs Mariam Traore Chazalnoel, Policy Officer at the International Organization for Migration, Environment and Climate Change. Forced migration has serious impacts in both the source and destination areas. The first edition of the Global Land Outlook published in 2017 projects that Africa and Asia could lose up to 80 per cent of its cropland due to urban expansion. In response to serious forced migration that is driven by land degradation, 14 African countries launched the Initiative of Sustainability, Stability and Security (3S), which aims to restore degraded land and create green jobs for migrants and vulnerable groups. The 3S Initiative is engaging countries at the highest political level to fast-track implementation. “The 14 countries standing behind the 3S are ready to do their part to address the land degradation drivers of migration. But sustainable change can only occur if massive investments in land rehabilitation are made to create a virtuous cycle where people are given opportunities to live safe and stable lives at home”, added Mohamed Doubi Kadmiri, Diplomatic Advisor of the Head of Government of Morocco. Read more: The report on the UNCCD Knowledge Hub The 3S Initiative
Key messages from Science Day will be transmitted to the ministerial roundtables with a view to inform the discussions, and stimulate and equip the science community, land managers and civil society organizations with practical ideas for advancing the achievement of the multiple benefits of pursuing land degradation neutrality.
An estimated 7,200 participants that include ministers and representatives of governments, non-government and intergovernmental organizations, scientists, women and youth from the 197 Parties are expected to take around 30 decisions with actions that aim to strengthen land-use policies worldwide and address emerging threats, such as forced migration, sand and dust storms, and droughts.
In September 2019, at the 14th Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNCCD, Parties decided to establish an intergovernmental working group (IWG), on effective policy and implementation measures for addressing drought under the UNCCD. The COP also invited Parties, international organizations, and stakeholders to make submissions on: (a) Policy, implementation and institutional coordination frameworks and implementation measures for addressing drought under the Convention: and (b) Barriers, challenges, opportunities and implementation measures in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from drought. Further the COP requested the UNCCD secretariat to create an inventory of existing drought-related tools, with the aim to share this information with all Parties.