Stories

Majority of people in Japan tend to think desertification is happening far away from them. During the symposium today, they learned why they should care and take action in the fight against desertification and land degradation. “Japan is not immune from the impact of land degradation,”  said Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, speaking at the opening of the symposium. “For example, the Japanese government aims to increase the food self-sufficiency rate to 45%. It will be tough when nearly 30% of the agricultural land in Japan is already degraded. Meeting food self-sufficiency targets means not just food production increases but should also mean land restoration and rehabilitation in Japan.” She further mentioned the potential impact of land degradation on international peace and security because the loss of productive land is driving people to make risky life choices.  Mr. Yoshihiro Seki, Vice Minister for Environment in Japan, introduced Japan’s cooperation on the drylands issues through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He stressed the importance of land restoration in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The symposium participants then heard from three keynote speakers: Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Director, IR3S, University of Tokyo and Senior Visiting Professor, UNU-IAS; Prof. Uriel Safriel, Professor Emeritus, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and Ms. Majig Tungalag, Director, Department of Forest Policy and Coordination, Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism, Mongolia. Two panel discussions followed, the first one focusing on the UNCCD process and the second about the role of science and technology in achieving Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3 by combatting desertification to achieve a “land degradation-neutral world” by 2030.  The symposium was held in the United Nations University in Tokyo, where the observance of the International Year for Desert and Desertification was held 11 years ago, and in commemoration of over the 20 years of the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It was co-organized by the UNCCD secretariat along with the Ministry of Environment in Japan and Tottori University. Information about the symposium (English and Japanese): http://www.svc-net.jp/201727/

Desertification is a colossal aspect of drylands with global impact. By sustainably managing land and striving to achieve land degradation neutrality, the UNCCD will reduce the impact of climate change, avoid conflict over natural resources and help communities to thrive. Following landmark decisions at COP 12 in Ankara, the UNCCD is set to become a driving force in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 15 “Life on Land” and target 15.3 on land degradation neutrality. Against this backdrop, the UNCCD introduces a new corporate logo. The new logo is an all-encompassing symbol of our work and devoted endeavours. It combines all the key elements of the Convention in an elegant and simplistic delivery that can be instantly interpreted by an international audience. The Elements: The landscape representing land stewardship. The hand showing human presence. Nature suggesting hope, progress and life. The circle symbolising an inclusive convention with global reach. The traditional UN laurel wreath demanding respect and demonstrating authority. The logo designed by: Beth Johnson   For further information, contact: Yukie Hori Spokesperson/Communication team leader UNCCD secretariat yhori@unccd.int

On the afternoon of 11 January 2017, the ceremony that celebrated the opening of  the UNCCD Northern Mediterranean Regional Coordination Office took place on the Forestry Campus in Istanbul, Türkiye. The campus, located north of the capital, was established in 1951 and serves the Regional Forestry Directory, Regional Directory of Natural Parks and Wildlife, Forestry Research Institute and the Permanent Secretariat of the Commission for the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution. The event, hosted by the UNCCD Northern Mediterranean Regional Coordinator Mr. Erdogan Ozevren and the Regional Director of National Parks and Wildlife Mr. Osman Demirel, was attended by the UNCCD Executive Secretary Mrs. Monique Barbut, the UNCCD Chef de Cabinet Mr. Rajeb Boulharouf and the following country officials: the Undersecretary of Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs Mr.Ali Rıca Diniz, General Director for Combating Desertification Mr. Hanifi Avci, Regional Director of Forestry Mr. Galip Uzun and the Regional Director of State Water Works Mr. Sedat Özpinar. The UNCCD Northern Mediterranean Regional Coordination Office will serve the following countries: Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia and Türkiye. For more information, please contact Mr. Erdogan Ozevren, UNCCD Northern Mediterranean Regional Coordinator, eozevren@unccd.int.

Join us to celebrate the 2017 Land for Life Award Recognizing the excellence   The UNCCD Secretariat has the pleasure to invite you and your organization to nominate potential candidates for the 2017 Land for Life Award. This year, the Award will give recognition to candidates who have made an outstanding contribution to ensure stability and security of communities suffering from the impacts of land degradation and desertification due to environmental deterioration. The deadline for nomination is 28 February 2017. For more information, click here.   

Congratulations to top three winners and finalists of the Challenge! They will receive the distinction as the UNCCD Land for Life Youth Social Media Activists for a year. The winners and finalists will be given the task to spread key messages and create awareness of the UNCCD work and campaigns by reaching their peers and communities through social media networks. To find out more about the winners and the finalists, click here...  

Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Future Council in Hamburg, Germany, to establish a framework of cooperation in the fight against desertification and land degradation. This is a key element in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The World Future Council advises policy-makers on effective policy solutions for a sustainable future. Every year, the most visionary policies are honoured with the Future Policy Award, the only award that celebrates polices rather than people. This year, the World Future Council and the UNCCD Secretariat will identify and award policies that effectively combat desertification and land degradation. Monique Barbut explains, “Desertification is a silent, invisible crisis that is destabilizing communities on a global scale. It is important to identify and promote laws and policies that successfully protect, monitor and regulate combating desertification. We look forward to working closely together with the World Future Council.” The winners of the 2017 Future Policy Award will be recognized in a formal ceremony with the participation of ministers, decision-makers and the media during the Thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP13), which is scheduled to take place in September 2017 in Ordos, China. Desertification and land degradation are among the greatest environmental challenges of our time and a threat to the food security, livelihoods and health of hundreds of millions of people. More than 1.5 billion people in the world depend on degrading land for their daily needs. Droughts kill more people than any other single weather-related catastrophe and can amplify tensions within and between communities. It is estimated that 135 million people are at risk of being displaced by desertification. Drylands are the most conflict-prone regions of the world. "The World Future Council looks forward to further collaboration with the Convention Secretariat in identifying and spreading best practices in combating desertification policies in the interest of future generations. It is crucial to learn from the policies that are already making an impact,’’ said Alexandra Wandel, Director of the World Future Council. More recently, world leaders committed in 2015 to Sustainable Development Goal 15, target 3 of which calls on them to: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” To combat desertification and protect life in the drylands, decision-makers must enact, implement and expand policies for the conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources. The memorandum of understanding kicks off the cooperation on the Future Policy Award 2017 to combat desertification. Photo: WFC Director Alexandra Wandel (left) with Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary at UNCCD Photo: WFC Director Alexandra Wandel (left) with Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary at UNCCD.