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The UNCCD, UNDP and the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, together with WOCAT, invite UNCCD Country Parties to express interest in joining the GEF-funded project: "Scaling the capacity of UNCCD Parties for inclusive decision support in Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)." About the project: This two-year project will support eight to ten selected countries to enhance their capacity to assess, monitor and address land degradation through inclusive, participatory processes. The project will co-develop national LDN Decision Support Systems (LDN-DSS), aligned with SDG target 15.3. Benefits for participating countries: Tailored technical support and capacity buildingCo-development of national LDN-DSSParticipatory mapping of land degradation and restoration trendsAccess to global knowledge exchanges and learning platformsInternational recognition at UNCCD COPs and other global forums Countries with hyper-arid regions and small island developing states are especially encouraged to apply. The full text of the call is available in English, French and Spanish in the menu on the right.  Application deadline: July 4 To apply, complete the application form, including a signed Expression of Interest from your UNCCD National Focal Point. For questions, please contact: Ingrid Teich – ingrid.teich@unibe.ch Phemo Kgomotso – phemo.kgomotso@undp.org National Focal Points of interested country Parties are cordially invited to participate in one of the online information sessions to be held on Monday 23 June:Webinar 1 (English and French)  11:00 AM  CEST: https://unibe-ch.zoom.us/meeting/register/4438c0d9SvOoFXa88xRvEQWebinar 2 (English, French and Spanish)  4:00 PM CEST: https://unibe-ch.zoom.us/meeting/register/Dc-ISTtCSA2jM0N54aszqQ

 Leaders to call for global land restoration as basis of peace  On 17 June, leaders, civil society organizations, and Indigenous representatives will convene in Bogotá, Colombia to advocate for global land restoration as a foundation of food security, sustainable development, and lasting peace. As the world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, the growing demand for nutritious food and clean water means that restoring degraded land is no longer optional—it is an existential imperative. This year’s global observance of Desertification and Drought Day, hosted by Colombia and led by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) under the theme ‘Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities will spotlight the undeniable economic, social, and environmental benefits of land restoration for people and the planet.  Every US$1 used to restore land yields a return of US$7 to US$30 through enhanced ecosystem services and livelihoods, making for an investment case that the world cannot afford to overlook. Nations need to invest US$1 billion per day by 2030 to bring some 1.5 billion hectares of land back to health in support of human security and dignity, according to UNCCD. Journalists, policymakers, and stakeholders are invited to attend and cover this high-level event. What: Global Observance event of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 When: 18:30 -19:30 hours (Bogota time), 17 June 2025 Where: Cra. 10 #26-21, Bogotá, Colombia Key Speakers:  Gustavo Petro Urrego, President of the Republic of Colombia Martha Carvajalino, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia.  Lena Estrada, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia  Andrea Meza, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNCCD  Ayman Ghulam, representative of the UNCCD COP16 Presidency  Pallab Chakma, representative of the Global Land Forum  Notes How to cover the global observance event: Register here to attend the event in Bogotá; and access the press kit with audiovisual materials on the event. Follow the livestreaming link to the opening and high-level segments on the UNCCD Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@THEUNCCD For media enquiries and interviews requests, please contact:                                                  UNCCD Press Office press@unccd.int  For more information:  Website of Desertification and Drought Day 2025 About the global observance of Desertification and Drought Day in Bogota 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.  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).  

From the Arctic tundra to the steppe, signs of soil fatigue, erosion and degradation are emerging — and with them, a warning: no region is immune. Land degradation is no longer a remote concern confined to arid zones — it has become a shared, urgent global crisis. Countries with vastly different climates, geographies and land use systems are now grappling with its impacts. The evolving understanding that land degradation transcends climate zones, with implications for food security, climate resilience and economic stability across continents, has placed the issue firmly on the global agenda. Recognizing this, the UNCCD — the only legally binding international agreement focused on land and soil — is prioritizing collaboration across regions and sectors to successfully address these challenges. Russia, once perceived as largely outside the desertification-prone zones, is now facing land degradation on multiple fronts. Although deserts make up only a small fraction of its vast territory, 85 per cent of the country’s primary agricultural production relies on just 7 per cent of the land — land that is now showing signs of vulnerability. In 2023 alone, 1.1 million hectares were officially recognized as disturbed, with the area expanding by 42,000 hectares each year. Industrial activity is the dominant factor, with agriculture contributing 18 per cent of the degradation. These realities were the backdrop to a recent roundtable at the UN House in Moscow, convened to reflect on the outcomes of UNCCD’s 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) and their relevance for Russia. Organized by the Nature and People Foundation — the first and only accredited Russian observer to the Convention — the meeting brought together stakeholders from government, academia, civil society and international organizations.  One of the roundtable’s core messages echoed a major takeaway from COP16: land degradation must be addressed across all ecosystems, including boreal and Arctic regions. Russian scientists noted that methodologies initially designed to assess desertification in drylands are now being effectively adapted to northern environments. This evolving approach reflects the latest science, which connects soil health, climate resilience, biodiversity and food security in a synergetic framework. Representing the UNCCD, the Chief of Science, Technology and Innovation Mr. Johns Muleso Kharika noted that “the shift from dealing exclusively with desertification and drought to addressing the silent crisis that is land degradation in all ecosystems demonstrates a strategic evolution in addressing the problem. The Convention engages a wide range of countries who face land degradation caused by deforestation, urban sprawl, soil erosion and other polluting factors,” he added, emphasizing the role of science as a key factor in shaping  future-facing solutions. Nikolay Doronin, First Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Public Chamber Commission on Ecology, highlighted that in 2023, 1.1 million hectares of land were classified as damaged— 0.06 per cent of Russia’s area, exceeding the size of Cyprus or Lebanon and comparable to Qatar. This area is growing by 42,000 hectares annually, with 18 per cent located in agricultural zones. New technologies — including satellite monitoring, advanced planting materials and biotech-based restoration techniques — are becoming essential tools. Russia’s scientific institutions are contributing to emerging approaches in land monitoring, classification and adaptive restoration. But the impact of these efforts depends on national coordination, investment and political will. Private sector engagement was another theme, with businesses urged to take greater responsibility for the lands they affect — particularly given that many degraded areas fall within or near industrial zones. The message was clear: land degradation is not someone else’s problem — and reversing it demands responsibility and action from all sectors. Looking ahead to COP17 in Mongolia, Russian organizations are already preparing new inputs — including scientific findings and policy recommendations — drawing on their experience in land monitoring, scientific exchange and cross-sectoral planning. The roundtable made it clear that land degradation is no longer seen as a fringe issue. As the Convention’s agenda continues to evolve and as land degradation increasingly transcends national and ecological boundaries, one conclusion stands out: desertification is no longer a localized issue — and Russia is bringing both long-standing commitment and fresh scientific insight to the table. Land degradation knows no borders. And neither should the solutions. For more about the meeting, follow this link. Photo (c): naturepeople.org

Three independent scientists will soon have the opportunity to contribute to shaping the future direction of the UNCCD through participation in the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework (IWG-FSF).This expert group, established by Decision 4/COP.16, will support the development of key elements for a post-2030 strategic framework. Its work will include a review of the current UNCCD goals and indicators, ensuring future efforts to combat desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) are informed by robust, science-based evidence and aligned with global sustainability processes.The IWG-FSF will comprise regional representatives and technical experts, including three independent scientists selected through an open call launched on 5 June 2025, following the approval of the group’s terms of reference. The selection will be based on criteria outlined in the approved terms. Please note that the earlier call issued on 19 May 2025 has been withdrawn. Interested applicants are requested to resubmit their applications.An interim report on the group’s progress is expected at CRIC 23 in December 2025.

The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be hosted by Mongolia in its capital city, Ulaanbaatar, from 17 to 28 August 2026.   This landmark global event will bring together delegates from 197 Parties, heads of state, ministers, representatives from international organizations, scientific communities, civil society and the private sector to forge solutions to the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought.  Mongolia, with a vast territory of 1.56 million square kilometers, is experiencing land degradation across approximately 76.9 per cent of its land. Recognizing the critical role of land management in addressing the triple environmental crisis, the country has become a key voice in global efforts to combat desertification and enhance land resilience. Mongolia's ambitious development agendas—particularly its interconnected national movements on environment and agriculture—position the country as a strategic host for COP17 of the UNCCD. COP17 will be convened in alignment with the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), offering a crucial global opportunity to highlight sustainable rangeland management and the needs of more than one billion people who directly depend on these vital ecosystems for their livelihoods. During the two-week conference, participants will engage in a high-level segment that includes ministerial dialogues, along with multi-stakeholder forums and thematic discussions on science–policy integration, innovation, solutions, technology and financing. The event is expected to foster impactful collaboration and action across sectors, advancing the goals of sustainable land management, ecosystem and land restoration and the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. To build momentum toward COP17 and increase public awareness and youth engagement, Mongolia has already launched a series of national initiatives. One key upcoming event is the “Youth4Land” national forum, scheduled for 16–17 June 2025 in Mandalgovi city, Dundgovi Province, in observance of Desertification and Drought Day. This forum will bring together over 100 young herders, researchers and policymakers to co-develop sustainable land solutions rooted in traditional knowledge and scientific evidence. This national initiative is part of the country’s efforts to implement outcomes from previous UNCCD COPs and promote inclusive participation. Mongolia's strong development and environmental agenda — including the national 'Billions of Trees' movement, the 'White Gold' community-based rural development initiative and the 'Food Revolution' agri-soil initiative — positions the country as a regional and global model of action. Hosting COP17 will provide a historic opportunity to elevate international cooperation on land, climate and biodiversity to a new level.  This pivotal conference will mark a significant step forward in uniting the world around solutions to land degradation and climate challenges, solidifying Mongolia’s contribution to building a sustainable and resilient future for all. For more information, please contact: UNCCD Press Office: press@unccd.int,  https://www.unccd.int, @unccd Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia: https://www.mecc.gov.mn About UNCCD  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss.  https://unccd.int About the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists  On the initiative of Mongolia, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) to enhance rangeland management and the lives of pastoralists. With this declaration, UN Member States are called upon to invest in sustainable rangeland management, to restore degraded lands, to improve market access by pastoralists, to enhance livestock extension services and to fill knowledge gaps on rangelands and pastoralism. The IYRP 2026 will coincide with the UNCCD COP17 to be hosted by Mongolia.  https://iyrp.info  

On World Football Day, theUNCCDis proud to announce William Troost-Ekong, captain of Nigeria’s national football team and professional player for the Saudi Pro League Al-Kholood FC, as the latest Sport4Land Champion.