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The UNCCD Secretariat invites accredited civil society organizations to nominate one candidate to the Science–Policy Interface (SPI). The elected nominee will serve as alternate CSO observer for 2025-2026, supporting Manon Albagnac, and will become full CSO observer for 2027-2028. The SPI supplies policy-relevant science on desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD), and in 2025-2026 will steer the third Global Land Outlook and pilot fast-track assessments.Nominees must demonstrate DLDD expertise; experience at science–policy interfaces and in translating scientific, local and Indigenous knowledge for civil society and policy makers; familiarity with UNCCD procedures; fluent English and reliable internet access. The observer is expected to uphold SPI principles, participate in meetings, contribute to the work programme, relay information between the SPI and CSOs, and promote SPI outputs. Service is voluntary, but nominees must secure written employer support for the time and effort required.To nominate, CSOs must email cso@unccd.int by 24:00 CEST on 28 July 2025 with a completed application, the candidate’s two-page English CV, a nomination letter from the accredited CSO describing its mandate and governance, and an employer commitment letter. All valid nominations will be reviewed by the CSO Panel, accredited CSOs will then vote between 11 and 28 July 2025, and results will be posted on the UNCCD website and CSO Google Group. The full call text and the application form—are available in the right-hand side menu.

Inclusive land tenure governance and ensuring that human and legitimate land rights are respected and safeguarded is vital for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Without accessible and transparent grievance and accountability mechanisms, negative social, economic or environmental impacts may undermine efforts to achieve LDN and other development goals, especially at the local level. Decision 28/COP.16 of the UNCCD recognized the importance of accountability and grievance mechanisms in addressing land tenure issues. It called for the Secretariat and the Global Mechanism to enhance awareness of existing mechanisms, ensuring the widest possible reach among stakeholders.In response, the UNCCD-FAO Initiative on land tenure is developing a Compendium of accountability and grievance mechanisms related to land tenure to raise awareness on the diverse range of existing mechanisms, highlighting best practices in formal, informal and customary systems used across various levels — from local, national, regional to international — around the world.Call for submissionsTo support this initiative, the UNCCD and FAO are seeking case studies, reports, policy briefs, guidelines or any other written materials related to accountability, grievance or dispute resolution mechanisms at the local, municipal, provincial and national levels.These can include state-based judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, non-state-based mechanisms – customary, traditional, CSO-led or local mechanisms – regional or international mechanisms, business-led mechanisms and any other innovative and hybrid mechanisms.The submission must clearly outline:Relevance to land tenure and desertification, land degradation and droughtType of grievance or alternative dispute resolution mechanismInclusivity, accessibility and affordabilityEffectiveness and impactLong-term viability and sustainabilityHow to contributeDownload and fill out the submission form from the menu on the right. The deadline for initial submissions is 30 September 2025. You will receive a confirmation that your submission has been received. The submissions will be screened based the completeness and quality of the information provided, and the criteria above. A submission does not mean a guaranteed inclusion in the Compendium. Please to sure to provide your contact information for any follow-up. Your contribution will help shape a global resource that promotes the adoption of inclusive, accessible and transparent grievance and accountability mechanisms as a means to achieving LDN and other land restoration goals.

With nearly  80 events in over 50 countries, this year’s living map of restoration and resilience stretched across five continents—through seedling-lined schoolyards, packed football pitches and sunset-lit coastlines—bringing land back to life. In Parakou, Benin, pupils became “Forest Guards,” lining their schoolyard with rows of acacia and cheering for every watered sapling. In Garoua, Cameroon, high-schoolers pieced together a hidden-word “Sustainability Fresco,” pledging to swap single-use plastics for reusable bowls and bottles. In Lome, Togo, passion for sport sprouted hope when UNCCD Sport4Land Champion Naomi Akakpo led 200 teens on a “Race to Plant 2 028 Trees,” pausing just long enough to tuck each seedling into the soil—one tree for every Olympic year up to Los Angeles 2028. In Lagos, Nigeria fellow Champion William Troost-Ekong turned every goal of his charity match into funding for drought-resilient nurseries, greening both the pitch and the planet.  India brought a household twist: Land for Life laureate Shyam Sunder Jyani led a “Plastic-Free Kitchen” drive, replacing plastic tea strainers with metal or natural-fiber ones to keep microplastics out of the soil. From island coasts to arid heartlands, communities rallied to mark the day. Volunteers planted mangroves beside flamingo-filled lagoons in Mumbai while pop-up bands kept up the “fly-sustainable” rhythm.  Across the equator, Namibia’s students at the NamTip Winter School measured encroaching thornbush and brainstormed ways to bring grasslands back. In Mandalgovi, Mongolia’s Youth4Land Forum combined herding games with virtual-reality dunes, proving that traditional husbandry and tech savvy can share a learning space under the same felt roof. Europe and Asia stirred the senses. Praia, Cape Verde blended morna folk music with mangrove talks, while in France visitors to Paris’s Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil sipped fonio mocktails and sampled millet sauces, discovering how Sahelian drylands nourish both soil and palate. In Spain, Madrid’s Casa Árabe pulsed with poems celebrating the rebirth of the soil once lost to land degradation, and in Yinchuan, China’s national observance filled museums with hands-on displays of the Three-North Shelterbelt and desert-art workshops, inviting children to recite plant names in Mandarin, Arabic and English.  Near Los Angeles, USA volunteers at Arcadia Eco-home harvested compost by lamplight, following this year’s rallying call: “Restore the land. Unlock the opportunities.”  The theme echoed across cultures and continents—braiding science, tradition, and community into a single green thread of drought-resilient hope. 

Food, water, energy crises, human tragedies in 2023-2025detailed in sweeping analysis by U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center and the UN Convention to Combat DesertificationFueled by climate change and relentless pressure on land and water resources, some of the most widespread and damaging drought events in recorded history have taken place since 2023, according to a UN-backed report launched today.Prepared by the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), with support from the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the latest report Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023-2025 provides a comprehensive account of how droughts compound poverty, hunger, energy insecurity, and ecosystem collapse.Says UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw: “Drought is a silent killer. It creeps in, drains resources, and devastates lives in slow motion. Its scars run deep.”“Drought is no longer a distant threat,” he adds. “It is here, escalating, and demands urgent global cooperation. When energy, food, and water all go at once, societies start to unravel. That’s the new normal we need to be ready for.”“This is not a dry spell,” says Dr. Mark Svoboda, report co-author and NDMC Director. "This is a slow-moving global catastrophe, the worst I've ever seen. This report underscores the need for systematic monitoring of how drought affects lives, livelihoods, and the health of the ecosystems that we all depend on."“The Mediterranean countries represent canaries in the coal mine for all modern economies,” he adds. “The struggles experienced by Spain, Morocco and Türkiye to secure water, food, and energy under persistent drought offer a preview of water futures under unchecked global warming. No country, regardless of wealth or capacity, can afford to be complacent.”A wide-ranging crisisThe new report synthesizes information from hundreds of government, scientific and media sources to highlight impacts within the most acute drought hotspots in Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia), the Mediterranean (Spain, Morocco, Türkiye), Latin America (Panama, Amazon Basin), Southeast Asia, and beyond.Africa: Over 90 million people across Eastern and Southern Africa face acute hunger. Some areas have been enduring their worst ever recorded drought.Southern Africa, already drought-prone, was devastated with roughly 1/6th of the population (68 million) needing food aid in August 2024.In Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi, maize and wheat crops have failed repeatedly.  In Zimbabwe alone, the 2024 corn crop was down 70% year on year, and maize prices doubled while 9,000 cattle died of thirst and starvation.In Somalia, the government estimated 43,000 people died in 2022 alone due to drought-linked hunger. As of early 2025, 4.4 million people – a quarter of the population – face crisis-level food insecurity, including 784,000 expected to reach emergency levels.Zambia suffered one of the world's worst energy crises as the Zambezi River in April 2024 plummeted to 20% of its long-term average. The country’s largest hydroelectric plant, the Kariba Dam, fell to 7% generation capacity, causing blackouts of up to 21 hours per day and shuttering hospitals, bakeries, and factories.MediterraneanSpain: Water shortages hit agriculture, tourism, and domestic supply. By September 2023, two years of drought and record heat caused a 50% drop in Spain’s olive crop, causing its olive oil prices to double across the country.Morocco: The sheep population was 38% smaller in 2025 relative to 2016, prompting a royal plea to cancel traditional Eid sacrifices.Türkiye: Drought accelerated groundwater depletion, triggering sinkholes that present hazards to communities and their infrastructure while permanently reducing aquifer storage capacity.Latin AmericaAmazon Basin: Record-low river levels in 2023 and 2024 led to mass deaths of fish and endangered dolphins, and disrupted drinking water and transport for hundreds of thousands. As deforestation and fires intensify, the Amazon risks transitioning from a carbon sink to a carbon source.Panama Canal: Water levels dropped so low that transits were slashed by over one-third (from 38 to 24 ships daily between October 2023 and January 2024), causing major global trade disruptions. Facing multi-week delays, many ships were rerouted to longer, costlier paths via the Suez Canal or South Africa’s infamous Cape of Good Hope. Among the knock-on effects, U.S. soybean exports slowed, and UK grocery stores reported shortages and rising prices of fruits and vegetables.Southeast AsiaDrought disrupted production and supply chains of key crops such as rice, coffee, and sugar. In 2023-2024, dry conditions in Thailand and India, for example, triggered shortages leading to a 8.9% increase in the price of sugar and sweets in the US.“A Perfect Storm” of El Niño and climate changeThe 2023–2024 El Niño event amplified already harsh climate change impacts, triggering dry conditions across major agricultural and ecological zones. Drought’s impacts hit hardest in climate hotspots, regions already suffering from warming trends, population pressures, and fragile infrastructure.“This was a perfect storm,” says report co-author Dr. Kelly Helm Smith, NDMC Assistant Director and drought impacts researcher. “El Niño added fuel to the fire of climate change, compounding the effects for many vulnerable societies and ecosystems past their limits.”Co-author Dr. Cody Knutson, who oversees NDMC drought planning research, underlined a recent OECD estimate that a drought episode today carries an economic cost at least twice as high as in 2000, with a 35% to 110% increase projected by 2035.“Ripple effects can turn regional droughts into global economic shocks,” she adds. “No country is immune when critical water-dependent systems start to collapse.”Women, children among the most affectedMost vulnerable to the effects of drought: Women, children, the elderly, pastoralists, subsistence farmers, and people with chronic illness. Health risks include cholera outbreaks, acute malnutrition, dehydration, and exposure to polluted water.The report highlights in particular the disproportionate toll on women and children.In Eastern Africa, forced child marriages more than doubled as families sought dowries to survive. Though outlawed in Ethiopia, child marriages more than doubled in frequency in the four regions hit hardest by the drought. Young girls who marry can bring their family income in the form of dowry while lessening the financial burden of providing food and other necessities.In Zimbabwe, entire school districts saw mass dropouts due to hunger, costs, and sanitation issues for girls.In the Amazon, the drought upended life for remote Indigenous and rural communities. In some areas, the Amazon River fell to its lowest level ever recorded, leaving residents stranded – including women giving birth – and entire towns without potable water.“The coping mechanisms we saw during this drought grew increasingly desperate,” says lead author Paula Guastello, NDMC drought impacts researcher. “Girls pulled from school and forced into marriage, hospitals going dark, and families digging holes in dry riverbeds just to find contaminated water — these are signs of severe crisis.""As droughts intensify, it is critical that we work together on a global scale to protect the most vulnerable people and ecosystems and re-evaluate whether our current water use practices are sustainable in today's changing world,” Guastello says.Deputy Executive Secretary of UNCCD Andrea Meza says: “The report shows the deep and widespread impacts of drought in an interconnected world: from its rippling effects on price of basic commodities like rice, sugar and oil from Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean; to disruptions in access to drinking water and food in the Amazon due to low river levels, to tens of millions affected by malnutrition and displacement across Africa." “The evidence is clear”, adds Meza. “We must urgently invest in sustainable land and water management, nature-based solutions, adapted crops, and integrated public policies to build our resilience to drought ---or face increasing economic shocks, instability and forced migration.”Wildlife killed en masseBeyond the 200 endangered river dolphins and thousands of fish lost to the Amazon drought, impacts on wildlife include:100 elephants died in Zimbabwe’s Hwange Park due to starvation and limited access to water between August and December 2023.Hippos were stranded in dry riverbeds in Botswana in 2024.Some countries last year culled wild animals (e.g., 200 elephants in Zimbabwe and Namibia) to feed rural communities and protect ecosystems from overgrazing.Lessons and recommendationsThe report calls for urgent investments in drought preparedness, including:Stronger early warning systems and real-time drought and drought impact monitoring, including conditions contributing to food and water insecurity.Nature-based solutions such as watershed restoration and indigenous crop use.Resilient infrastructure, including off-grid energy and alternative water supply technologies.Gender-responsive adaptation, ensuring that women and girls are not further marginalized.Global cooperation, especially in protecting transboundary river basins and trade routes.“Drought is not just a weather event – it can be a social, economic, and environmental emergency,” says Dr. Smith. “The question is not whether this will happen again, but whether we will be better prepared next time.”“Drought has a disproportionate effect on those with few resources. We can act now to reduce the effects of future droughts by working to ensure that everyone has access to food, water, education, health care and economic opportunity.”“The nations of the world have the resources and the knowledge to prevent a lot of suffering,” Dr. Smith adds. “The question is, do we have the will?”Voices from IDRAThe Third Vice-President and Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of Spain, Sara Aagesen, highlighted the work of IDRA — the Alliance co-chaired by Senegal and Spain — to mobilize political, technical and financial capital in favor of drought resilience, especially among the most vulnerable and affected populations: "At the International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, we are calling for increased mobilization of financial resources. We operate in a complex context, with limited resources, multiple urgencies and many competing priorities, meaning we must act strategically and collaboratively."Professor Daouda Ngom, Senegal's Minister of the Environment and Ecological Transition, declares: "Drought, in all its forms, is a global challenge that calls for joint responses. Strengthening the capacities of communities, countries and regions must be at the heart of international cooperation to ensure equitable and sustainable development. Let's not forget that investing in drought resilience is also a decisive step towards greater climate justice."  About the ReportThe National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and UNCCD sought to document drought’s recent impacts comprehensively to inform global policy and better prepare societies for future droughts.  The Drought Hotspots Around the World 2023-2025 report draws on over 250 peer-reviewed studies, official data sources, and news reports across more than a dozen countries and regions.By the Numbers:68 million: People needing food aid in Southern Africa23 million: People facing acute hunger in Eastern Africa70%: Maize crop lost in Zimbabwe (2024)Up to 21 hours/day: Power outages in Zambia200+: Endangered River dolphins killed by heat in the Amazon (Sept 2023)38: Daily Panama Canal transits before drought; 24 during drought50%: Olive oil production drop in Spain1 million+: People in Somalia displaced due to drought (2022); 4.4 million at crisis-level hunger (early 2025); 1.7 million children suffering acute malnutrition (Apr–Jun 2025)70%: Victoria Falls water level drop compared with 2023 (Zambia side, 2024)100+: Drought-related elephant deaths in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park1,600+: Estimated number of sinkholes in Türkiye due to groundwater depletionNearly doubled: Price increase of maize in Zambia€22.84 billion: Spain's investment in irrigation and water infrastructureAbout the UNCCDThe United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner. About IDRAThe International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. As a growing platform of more than 40 countries and institutions, IDRA draws on the collective strengths of its members to advance policies, actions, and capacity-building for drought preparedness, acknowledging we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The work of IDRA is aligned with, and supportive of, the mandate of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which hosts the IDRA Secretariat. For more information: https://idralliance.global. 

The signs are everywhere: cracked earth, dry rivers, failed crops and families forced to abandon their land. What was once seen as a rare natural disaster has become a persistent and intensifying threat. Drought is no longer confined to distant deserts or erratic seasons. It is advancing—slowly, silently—across borders and climate zones, placing unprecedented stress on people and ecosystems alike. Since 2000, the frequency and intensity of droughts have risen by 29 per cent. More than 1.4 billion people have already been affected. Economically, drought can slash a country’s GDP by up to 10 per cent and drag down growth for years. By mid-century, as much as three-quarters of the global population could face its impacts. For millions, it means far more than dry weather—it means food insecurity, water shortages, price spikes and the erosion of homes and livelihoods. And yet, unlike earthquakes or floods, drought gives us one rare advantage: time. Time to anticipate, adapt and build resilience. The challenge is not only to recognize the warning signs, but to act before the emergency unfolds. That imperative brought a wide range of stakeholders to Cologne, Germany, for the Inaugural Conference of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership held on 23-24 June 2025. Over two days of discussion and collaboration, government representatives, UN entities, financing institutions and technical experts worked to transform political intent into practical momentum. “This partnership is not another global fund. It is not just a trust fund. It is not about reacting to drought when it's too late. It is about building integrated, national systems of resilience—rooted in transparency, equity and the voices of local communities. This is how we protect lives, livelihoods and ecosystems before the crisis hits,” said the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw.  “If we wait until drought hits, it’s already too late. The cost—in human lives, in resources, in stability—is simply too high. This initiative is about shifting from reaction to resilience. It’s about building early warning systems, strengthening national drought plans, investing in risk mitigation and creating partnerships that are inclusive, science-based and focused on the communities most at risk. No one actor can do this alone—we need a collective, global response.” said H.E. Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, KSA.  Launched at UNCCD COP16 under the leadership of the host country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnershipwas established to help countries move beyond crisis response toward proactive drought risk reduction. At its core is the belief that resilience is not forged in crisis, but through long-term preparation—by enhancing early warning systems, adopting climate-smart agriculture, managing land and water sustainably and putting financial safeguards in place before disaster strikes. The Riyadh Partnership brings these elements together into a coordinated global framework. It offers countries access to technical assistance and funding through a dual financing model: pooled contributions to a multi-donor trust fund and direct bilateral support aligned with nationally identified priorities. The Partnership draws on existing alliances and tools, including the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), the Integrated Drought Management Programme and regional initiatives such as the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI).  Moving from vision to action In Cologne, delegates reached consensus on the Riyadh Partnership's core governance structure and began outlining its operational roadmap. Financing featured prominently, with calls to mobilize diverse instruments and align efforts across existing initiatives. Key announcements included a one-billion-dollar commitment from the Islamic Development Bank for drought resilience projects by 2030, and an indication from the Global Environment Facility that its upcoming funding cycle will call for a greater focus on drought. The United Nations Capital Development Fund also proposed a de-risking mechanism to facilitate access to financing. Several partners—including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)—offered technical expertise, while others committed to strengthening synergies with frameworks such as IDRA and MGI to ensure national actions are reinforced by global coordination. Importantly, the first Steering Committee was successfully identified during the Conference, marking a critical milestone in establishing the Partnership’s long-term governance. The agreed governance structure includes a Steering Committee, Secretariat, Fund Trustee, Independent Review function and an Assembly of Partners. The UNCCD will host the Secretariat and the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office will act as Trustee. Work is now underway to finalize the Riyadh Partnership’s governance document—a foundational charter that will define roles, responsibilities and processes. This document, to be completed in the coming months, will reflect the Partnership’s inclusive, regionally representative and institutionally diverse approach. The conference concluded with broad agreement on a shared path forward. In the months ahead, work will focus on finalizing the Steering Committee, launching early flagship projects and putting in place practical financial delivery mechanisms for the most drought-prone countries.  “This is just the beginning,” said Louise Baker, Managing Director of the UNCCD Global Mechanism. “We’ve built strong momentum and now we move to implementation—bringing this partnership to life on the ground.” This energy will carry into UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia next year, where countries are expected to review initial progress, share lessons and formally integrate the Partnership into the Convention’s future work. What began in Riyadh as a bold pledge is now taking shape as a long-term platform for action—helping countries anticipate and withstand one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. 

Desertification and Drought Day 2025 hosted by ColombiaAfrica and Latin America lead global land restoration commitmentsGlobal losses from land degradation three times the amount of annual ODA$1bn per day needed to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land back to health  Bonn/Bogotá, 17 June 2025 — If we continue business as usual, land almost the size of South America (16 million square kilometres) will show continued degradation by 2050. Yet, bringing 1.5 billion hectares of land back to health could unlock a trillion-dollar restoration economy, the United Nations noted on this year's Desertification and Drought Day, urging world’ leaders to step up action. In his message, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated: “What’s good for land is good for people and economies. But humanity is degrading land at an alarming rate, costing the global economy nearly $880 billion every year —far more than the investments needed to tackle the problem.” “I urge governments, businesses, and communities to answer the call and accelerate action on our shared global commitments on sustainable land use. We must reverse degradation, and boost finance for restoration — including by unlocking private investment,” he declared. This call for action was highlighted during this year's global observance of Desertification and Drought Day in Bogotá, Colombia, held under the theme ‘Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities.’  UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “This year’s observance highlights the enormous benefits of reviving our land ---benefits we can’t afford to overlook as the global population is set to reach 10 billion by 2050. There is much at stake in curbing the competition over shrinking natural resources: without nutritious food, clean water and raw materials there are no livelihoods; and without them, there can be no economic prosperity, political stability, or lasting peace. A restored land is a land of endless opportunities, and it depends on all of us to unlock them.” Unlocking global land restoration potential According to the latest analysis by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), restoring one billion hectares of degraded land worldwide could generate up to US$1.8 trillion annually, with every dollar invested returning between US$7 and US$30 through improved ecosystem services and livelihoods. Already, the combined effects of land degradation and drought cost the global economy US$ 878 billion each year, three times the figure for official development assistance (ODA) in 2023. Sub-Saharan Africa, home to 45 per cent of the world’s degraded lands, leads global land restoration commitments with more than 440 million hectares pledged, which could create up to 10 million decent land-based jobs in sustainable agriculture and forestry sectors in vulnerable areas like the Sahel. Latin America and the Caribbean, which accounts for 14 per cent of the world’s degraded lands, has the second largest restoration target of more than 220 million hectares, showing strong potential and commitment to reviving vast swaths of degraded land.  In Western Asia and Northern Africa, where nearly 90 per cent of land is already degraded and a combination of rising temperatures, water scarcity, and stressed agricultural systems are placing increasing strain on people and ecosystems alike, more than 150 million hectares have been earmarked for restoration. Land degradation is largely driven by deforestation, unsustainable farming, and urban sprawl; it is further exacerbated by climate change and underpinned by the dual challenges of poverty and overconsumption.  Meeting global land restoration targets requires one billion dollars a day between now and 2030, including a much bigger contribution from the private sector, which currently accounts for only six per cent of the global investments to revive the world’s land as the foundation for our societies, economies, and functioning ecosystems. Colombia puts land at the centre of development Colombia, which hosts today’s global observance of Desertification and Drought Day, is one of the countries putting land at the centre of its development, reconciliation, and climate agenda. Land degradation affects nearly 30 per cent of its territory and more than 40 per cent of its soils are vulnerable to salinization, directly impacting the livelihoods of one in ten Colombians. Hence the urgency to conserve, sustainably manage, and revive the land. Today, the country is restoring more than 560,000 hectares of land, expanding agroforestry systems, and advancing land use planning in rural areas. In the past five years, the country has rallied farmers, civil society, and scientists around initiatives to restore critical watersheds, encourage sustainable coffee growing and cattle raising, and improve the quality of productive soils with focus on the Caribbean and Andean regions. The Minister of Agriculture of Colombia, Martha Carvajalino, emphasized the country’s integrated approach to land reform and restoration: “In Colombia, we know that equitable land distribution is not enough; we must also heal our land and soils. Around the world, land restoration lays the foundation for food security and employment, underpins climate and biodiversity action; and is essential to cementing peace and democracy. As we host the global observance of Desertification and Drought Day, we reiterate our commitment to prioritizing land and soil restoration in the spirit of ‘land for life’." UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza said: “I commend Colombia for putting healthy lands at the centre of the country’s development, biodiversity, and climate agenda. Restoring the land is not only an environmental necessity, but an environmental justice imperative and a prerequisite for stability and prosperity.” The global observance is part of the Global Land Forum, hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia, the Center for Research and Popular Education/Peace Program (CINEP) as lead for a National Organizing Committee of civil society actors, the European Union and the International Land Coalition.  *** Notes to Editors: Factsheet and Website on Desertification and Drought Day 2025 Access audiovisual materials on the global observance event here. For more information, please contact:  UNCCD Press Office press@unccd.int About UNCCD   The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner. About Desertification and Drought Day Officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 (A/RES/49/115), Desertification and Drought Day, marked annually on 17 June, is a unique occasion to highlight practical solutions to combating desertification, land degradation and drought. The theme of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 is “Restore the land. Unlock the opportunities,” underscoring multiple benefits linked to land restoration. The global observance of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 is hosted by Colombia. The observance was held as part of the Global Land Forum, organized by the Government of Colombia in partnership with the International Land Coalition. Countries and communities around the world organize activities to mark the Day. Previous global Desertification and Drought Day celebrations took place in Germany (2024), USA (2023), Spain (2022), Costa Rica (2021), Republic of Korea (2020), Türkiye (2019), Ecuador (2018), Burkina Faso (2017) and China (2016).