Local governments are first responders to land degradation and climate challenges

Mayors' Forum at COP16 highlights urban-rural synergies for sustainable land management

Engineer Waleed Al-Akrich, Deputy for Projects of the Riyadh Municipality, represented Dr. Faisal Al-Hadlaziz Al-Hayyar, Mayor of Riyadh. In his opening remarks, Al-Akrich emphasized the critical role of local and regional governments in combating desertification, land degradation, and drought. Speaking under the theme "Our Land, Our Future," he highlighted the transformative potential of multilevel governance frameworks, urging collaboration across governments, NGOs, and international entities.

"To secure our land and ensure our future, we need transformative policies, knowledge sharing, and partnerships that transcend borders," he declared.

Moderated by Carlos Correa, former Mayor of Montevideo, the forum showcased diverse perspectives from mayors and local leaders worldwide. Uğur İbrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya and President of UCLG, shared innovative efforts in Turkey, such as restoring the dried Meke Lake and advancing water conservation. Noraini Roslan, representing Selangor State, Malaysia, highlighted strategies balancing urbanization with sustainability, including mangrove rehabilitation and wetland protection. Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco, illustrated the importance of urban-rural linkages in local reforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts to combat climate change.

The panel emphasized the need for collaborative governance, knowledge sharing, and sustainable solutions like nature-based projects, urban nature components, and integrated land-use planning. Participants stressed the importance of local governments as first responders to challenges such as land degradation, food security, and climate change, urging institutionalized roles for local authorities within the UNCCD framework.

Rethinking urban-rural connections: A path to sustainable land use

Building on the discussions from the Mayor's Forum, the release of the Primer on Urban-Rural Linkages and Land highlights how these connections are pivotal for sustainable development. Developed by UNCCD and UN-Habitat, the Primer offers a roadmap to foster equitable and sustainable interactions between urban and rural communities.

Urban-rural linkages—flows of people, goods, services and ideas—are essential to sustain both vibrant urban centers and thriving rural communities. However, they also bring unique challenges, as detailed in the Primer. These include fragmented governance, resource exploitation, peri-urban expansion, and the interconnected challenges of land degradation and climate change. The Primer outlines solutions that prioritize multilevel governance, integrated land-use planning and nature-based approaches like investing in green infrastructure to support ecosystem health.

Over 4.4 billion people live in urban areas today, a number expected to rise to 68% by 2050. Despite occupying less than 3% of the Earth's surface, cities consume nearly 70% of natural resources and generate over 70% of global emissions. Meanwhile, rural areas—providing essential resources like food, water, and energy—face increasing pressures from urban demand, deforestation, and land degradation. Strengthening urban-rural linkages is critical to address these disparities and build resilience against future challenges.

"We convene today as stewards of our communities, championing a future that aligns the social and ecological functions of land with the new urban agenda," stated Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, who announced the Primer via video during the forum. She underscored the need for inclusive solutions to address migration pressures, food security, and water scarcity while ensuring no one is left behind.

Setting the benchmark for collaboration

The discussions at COP16 and the launch of the Primer reaffirmed the commitment to stronger urban-rural linkages and sustainable land management. By aligning policies and actions across scales, the forum highlighted the critical role of local governments in shaping a resilient future.