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Agenda item on Relations with Conventions and other International Institutions (Agenda item.10) Co-Chairs, Council members, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am grateful for this opportunity to brief the Council again. The Council meets at a time when the world is grappling with the increasing challenges in the path to sustainable development. You are meeting this time round when land restoration is becoming more relevant by the day. I see the beginning of a large-scale land restoration movement across the world. When World Leaders speak of trillion trees to be planted, we should translate these into hectares of land being restored. Restoring degraded lands, as you know, generates revenues for poor populations. Land restoration also brings more food to the hungry and to the markets. It’s restoring ecosystems and biodiversity. When they say planting trees, we should hear enhancing resilience to the climate crisis while sequestering large quantities of carbon from the atmosphere and bringing carbon back to where it belongs, to the soil. Just last month at the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, more than 140 countries agreed on a common declaration, namely the Glasgow Leader’s Declaration on Forests and Land Use. Leaders committed to working together to reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. We now need to move rapidly from Summit Declarations to real implementation on the ground. Another positive outcome of Glasgow was the Bezos Earth pledge of $1 billion dollars for landscape restoration in Africa, especially for  the implementation of the Great Green Wall. The pledges to the Great Green Wall are now totaling more than 19 billion dollars. This Africa-led land restoration initiative, which you are familiar with, would not be possible without the incubation of the GEF. The Great Green Wall is one the concrete examples of a program, which, from its early stages, benefited from the support of the GEF. When only few believed on the Great Green Wall, the GEF saw the potential of a glass half full. Today, banks and other financial institutions are investing on the Great Green Wall. This is a concrete demonstration that investing in nature can be a profitable business, even in the Sahel, one of the harshest conditions on Earth. UNCCD is working closely with all partners and the 11 countries of  the GGW to develop mechanisms that allow better access to the existing funds to help address land restoration, drought, renewable energies, youth and women’s employment across the Sahel region. I would like to express our gratitude once again to you, as members of the Council, and to the GEF Secretariat, for your trust and support. Today, we are happy to see similar initiatives being developed in other parts of the world. Again, a concrete case of what a successful demonstration programme can do, namely, to serve as an example and to emulate. In that respect, the Middle East Green Initiative announced in March 2021 was launched in Riyadh last month. It aims, among others, to restore 200 million hectares across the Greater Middle East. In parallel, Saudi Arabia launched its own national green initiative, which aims at restoring 40 million hectares of degraded land. Similar initiatives are already in place in India, Pakistan, China. We are pleased to see other countries developing similar plans, including Mongolia, the countries of the dry corridor of Latin America, as well the countries of Southern Africa, under the SADC umbrella. In addition, just two weeks ago, I signed in Riyadh an agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to set up the Secretariat of the "G20 Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats”, that is the initiative launched by the G20 leaders under the Saudi G20 Presidency in November 2020. Under this initiative, the G20 leaders aim to prevent, halt and reverse land degradation across the world through private sector engagement, civil society empowerment, knowledge sharing and development.  The ambition here is to achieve a 50% reduction in degraded land by 2040. This will support other existing initiatives, adding momentum to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Council members, We, at UNCCD, are now focusing on our upcoming COP15, which will be held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – the 2nd and 3rd weeks of May of 2022. Two topics are likely to be discussed by Parties amongst others: Firstly: Parties will review the report of the Intergovernmental working Group on drought, which was set up by the previous COP in New Delhi. Unfortunately, droughts are hitting every year more countries, more communities, more economies, and more ecosystems. As we speak, millions of people are deprived from food and basic needs in Eastern Africa and in Madagascar. It is really heartbreaking to see people starving, large mammals drying literally in the deserts; and millions of hectares of forests burning all over the world. Secondly: Large scale land restoration is likely to come up as a big topic at the next COP, the world seems to be finally waking up to the importance of nature-based solutions. This movement is now unstoppable. The smartest private investors have gotten the message. It is a critical moment for the GEF as we have on sight the early results of our 30 years of investment in nature. Thirty years of demonstration, research, and science. The moment has now come to move to large scale. In my recent trip to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, Government authorities expressed their interest in developing what they call a « legacy programme ». As proud hosts to UNCCD COP15 and a country whose economy is largely dependent on agriculture, they want to invest on their best asset, namely: LAND. Hence, boosting long term environmental sustainability across major value chains.  Investing in large-scale sustainable management of land and soils in Côte d’Ivoire is investing in the country’s best asset: its natural capital. This will help protect and restore forests and lands and improving communities’ resilience to climate change. It’s an opportunity for UNCCD, GEF and other partners to work together to support this programme, which will help restore land and ensure sustainable development. That is the large-scale land management we are inviting GEF partners to consider, when moving ahead with the eighth replenishment of the facility. Keeping in view the emerging challenges that today’s world is facing, we hope that the replenishment of GEF-8 will find innovative, and creative ways to address these challenges. UNCCD will continue working with its Parties to set and update their voluntary land degradation neutrality targets and to develop projects to meet these targets. Most parties have developed national drought plans with UNCCD’s assistance; they are looking for support to implement these plans. Drought is an increasing threat due to the unpredictable changes in the world’s environment and there is a dire need of financing to enhance resilience and implement measures to combat effects of drought. So, allow me to close reminding us of the two issues that come high in the world’s attention: Drought management and mitigating the impacts of drought. Second, sustainable land management, large-scale land restoration. These, ladies and gentlemen, are important issues that also concern climate change, biodiversity, food, and human wellbeing. They are at the heart of what GEF is all about, and what GEF-8 should be focusing on. I thank you.

The UNCCD Secretariat held a thematic webinar on land tenure on 1 December 2021 for UNCCD country Parties, CSO panel and observers. The webinar introduced key tenure concepts and how land tenure is linked with UNCCD’s work. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presented the draft technical guide on how to integrate the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of land, fisheries, and forests in the context of national food security (VGGT) into the Convention and land degradation neutrality (LDN). Participants who represented various countries and regions had ample opportunity to ask questions and familiarize themselves with the draft technical guide. In 2019 at the UNCCD COP14, 197 Parties of the Convention adopted a landmark decision on land tenure. Recently, the UNCCD secretariat asked UNCCD country Parties, CSO panel and observers to submit their written contributions on the draft technical guide by 23 December 2021. The outcomes of this consultation process will contribute to the final version of the technical guide, which will be presented for the consideration of the UNCCD COP15 in May 2022. For further information on this consultation process, please contact Ms. Enni Kallio ekallio@unccd.int. Access the webinar recording in UN languages here.

This World Soil Day, UNCCD invites you to enjoy the Kids4Land e-book. It is a collection of entries from our recent art competition, where we have invited children from all over the world to share with us their vision of the land they would like to live on in the future. Together with their artwork, the kids also shared some profound messages. Beyond reminding us that we don't inherit our land from our ancestors but rather borrow them from our children, the kids have demonstrated that they ready to care for the future of their planet. "I tried to show what I’d like my future land to look like: a peaceful and united place, with humans and animals living on the land free of pollution and full of natural beauty and resources."" — Shoma from Bangladesh I want the land of the future to be beautiful. There's no drought because it rains everywhere, even in the desert. The rain brings out colorful rainbows, lots of water on the land and plenty of fish. And every child grows healthy and happy." — Hu Qingqing from Singapore "Nature is the most important thing, we have to look after it, we are nature too. We mustn’t forget that our countryside and animals are under threat from pesticides and climate change, we have to care for every part of the planet." — Benjamin Fallow from the UK Together with the German cartoonist Özi, we went through all the pictures and selected the 30 best, representing every region of the world. The finalists were invited to participate in an online master class on how to draw better. UNCCD also sent gifts and a certificate to recognize the top six submissions. Learn more: Download the e-book View the competition album on Flickr

Excellence, monsieur Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani, Président de la République Islamique de Mauritanie, président en exercice de la Grande Muraille Verte, Excellence, messieurs les Présidents, Excellence, monsieur le Président de la Commission de l’Union africaine, Excellence, mesdames et messieurs, à vos grades et rangs respectifs, La Grande Muraille Verte est considérée comme l’œuvre de restauration des terres la plus complexe au monde. Sans doute la plus ambitieuse, à date. Ce programme est porté par un géant politique, l’Union africaine, dans une région, le Sahel, dont les potentialités sont, à regret, éclipsées par un récit historiquement négatif. Les onze pays membres de l’Agence Panafricaine de la Grande Muraille Verte totalisent une population avoisinant le demi-milliard d’habitants, avec des projections dépassant le milliard et demi d’ici la fin du siècle. Comment nourrir, éduquer, soigner, vêtir et répondre aux besoins d’une population, plutôt jeune et exigeante, dont les revenus dépendent essentiellement de ressources naturelles ? Des ressources par ailleurs agressées au quotidien par les aléas d’un climat hostile et d’un environnement austère. La GMV, c’est planter l’espoir auprès de cette jeunesse pétillante de volonté. A la fois ubiquiste et opportuniste, ce Programme doit aider à transformer les défis en opportunités : le soleil, le vent, les espaces et les terres, les points d’eau et même les dunes. Transformer les défis démographiques en dividendes. Prévenir des ruptures de charge et des crises, notamment en milieux rural et péri-urbain. L’une des plus grandes forces de la GMV, c’est l’engagement politique des États, au plus haut niveau, manifesté aujourd’hui encore par votre Sommet. D’accepter de mutualiser vos efforts, de rechercher la complémentarité, et de mobiliser votre organisation continentale, ainsi que vos instances sous-régionales. C’est inédit pour un programme de terrain, pour être souligné. Cet engagement porte ses fruits. Lentement certes, mais sûrement, la communauté internationale convient que la gestion des ressources naturelles du Sahel doit s’inscrire parmi les réponses aux défis mondiaux à savoir : la désertification, la sécheresse, le changement climatique, la perte de la biodiversité et leurs corollaires économiques, sociaux et bien entendu environnementaux. Directement ou indirectement, la GMV contribuera à la paix, la sécurité et à la stabilité du Sahel. La vraie bataille du Sahel, c’est celle du développement durable et de la gouvernance inclusive. Traiter les symptômes sans s’attaquer à la racine du mal, ne guérira point le malade. Le Sahel est avant tout malade de la dégradation de son socle productif, de ses sols érodés et son environnement détruit, à ajouter à l’espoir évaporé de ses jeunes. En 2020, un bilan des dix premières années de la GMV a donné des résultats plutôt mitigés. Pour parvenir aux objectifs fixés en 2030, il faut restaurer, annuellement, plus de 8 millions d’hectares de terres agricoles, pastorales, de points d’eau et d’espaces naturels. Des investissements annuels à hauteur de 4 milliards de dollars US sont nécessaires. La bonne nouvelle, c’est que c’est faisable. Le faire, c’est répondre aux immenses besoins de développement de la région. Mais c’est aussi contribuer aux objectifs mondiaux de lutte contre le changement climatique, contre la désertification, et répondre à bien d’autres objectifs du développement durable. L’autre bonne nouvelle, c’est la promesse de financement, sur plus de 19 milliards de dollars pour l’horizon 2025. Nous sommes honorés de travailler avec vous, leaders Sahéliens, mais aussi avec le Président français, Emmanuel Macron, le Prince Charles du Royaume-Uni et bien d’autres. Nous pensons que l’heure est maintenant venue de passer à l’échelle et mener des actions concrètes : soutien aux communautés ; gérer les écosystèmes et booster la résilience d’économies fragiles. Accélérer et simplifier les procédures de décaissement, tout en assurant la plus grande transparence de gestion. Accroître la capacité et la qualité d’absorption des ressources. Les pays de la GMV voudront peut-être intégrer, si ce n’est déjà le cas, la GMV dans leurs Plans Nationaux de développement. Chaque pays voudra peut-être développer un programme national multisectoriel, intégré et cohérent par rapport aux piliers de l’Accélérateur de la GMV. Ceci permettra d’accélérer la mobilisation des ressources promises par les partenaires. Pour parvenir à nos ambitions, dans une région faisant face à autant de défis, les partenaires techniques et financiers devraient pour leur part considérer adopter des procédures souples et accélérées. Les sociétés sahéliennes attendent, avec une impatience compréhensible, la concrétisation des annonces de Sommets en actions sur le terrain. Pour y parvenir, une réforme institutionnelle est nécessaire. Le Conseil des Ministres a déjà adopté une décision dans ce sens. Un renforcement du capital humain de l’agence régionale semble urgent. Les structures actuelles mèneront difficilement leurs missions de suivi-évaluation et de pilotage d’un programme d’une telle dimension. Certains estiment qu’à terme, la GMV pourrait être la plus imposante œuvre humaine sur terre. L’Afrique a fourni plusieurs trésors à l’humanité. Ses civilisations, ses cosmogonies, ses technologies et ses pyramides, entre autres. Avec la GMV, l’Afrique peut montrer qu’elle n’a pas fini de surprendre le monde. Je vous remercie.

The Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, and the UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, this morning signed a cooperation agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UNCCD to implement the G20 Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing the Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats

UNCCD has recently renewed its partnership with Baaba Maal who is one of the six UNCCD Land Ambassadors. Hailing from the region of the Senegal River which is home to millions of people living in four Western African countries: Senegal, Mali, Guinea and Mauritania, the music legend Baaba Maal has vowed to fight desertification and climate change in the Sahel, by planting trees and making it a land of green. A singer and guitarist who has released albums since 1989 in a music career lauded across the world, Baaba Maal lent his unique voice to the sound track of the international blockbuster Black Panther, a film that won an Oscar and a Grammy Award for its music score. Since 2003, the musician has been committed to fighting various development challenges in Africa. His popularity means that he can make global impact to help create a new narrative for the Sahel as a region of opportunities, where a Great Green Wall Initiative works to transform lives of humanity’s most vulnerable people by creating green jobs, harnessing the Sahel’s abundant solar energy and building and prosperous future on land. "My music and songs use many words to describe the beauty of the Sahel – but now the beauty is disappearing and people are moving away from their villages. I want my music to call people to fix things, again. The first step is planting trees." — Baaba Maal Photo (L to R): Baaba Maal with UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw Read more: Land Ambassadors Great Green Wall