Other meetings & events

Virtual Facebook event @commonwealthsec 11.00 – 13.00 BST. Download event flyer. The Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification are organizing a high-level side event in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. The event will be an opportunity for member nations of the Commonwealth to explore new ways to deliver ambitious, coordinated and accelerated action that will help achieve a land-degradation neutral world and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and support the Paris Agreement on climate change. This event aims to: Showcase how climate vulnerable member countries are responding to land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change. Identify options for joint action and synergy among Commonwealth members and the Rio Conventions. Forge a positive, action-based agenda in support of nature-based solutions in the run-up to the ‘Super Year for Nature’, which includes key global summits such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (June 2021), United Nations Biodiversity Conference, CBD COP15 (May 2021) and United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26 (November 2021). Programme Opening remarks Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland Keynote address United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohamed (Keynote Speaker) High-level panel Minister of Environment of Namibia, Pohamba Penomwenyo Shifeta Minister of Environment of Nigeria, Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar Minister-in-Charge of Climate Change of Pakistan, Malik Amin Aslam Minister for Economic Development, Housing, Urban Renewal, Transport and Civil of St Lucia, Herod Stanislas Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Bangladesh, Begum Habibun Nahar Minister of Environment and Tourism of Rwanda, Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya Reflections Minister of State for the Environment and the Pacific of the United Kingdom, Zac Goldsmith United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) Executive Secretary, Elizabeth Mrema United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa Summary United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw Moderated by Ruth Kattumuri, Senior Director - Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development Division, Commonwealth Secretariat. More info: https://thecommonwealth.org/media/event/accelerating-action-around-land-enhanced-climate-action

Virtual meeting from 10 am to 1 pm CET. “Land-Solar Plus” builds on the premise that integrated solutions linking sustainable land  management with solar energy systems can effectively contribute to the achievement of Land Degradation Neutrality while offering multiple benefits for enhanced food security, better water management, improved agricultural productivity and better access to sustainable energy services for jobs creation and income generation.    This stakeholder meeting will bring together experts, specialists and policy makers from different regions and backgrounds to explore opportunities, challenges and synergies in promoting solar-powered sustainable land management practices and business models for achieving SDGs and climate action.   

The UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw will take part in the webinar jointly organized by the Government of Egypt and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the context of Egypt's Presidency of the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to CBD. The webinar on protecting biodiversity, combating land degradation and mitigating climate change to reduce the risks of future pandemics will take place on 10 September 2020 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (GMT +2). This webinar is also organized within the context of the initiative by Egypt to promote a coherent approach for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change and land and ecosystem degradation. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call for humanity. The degradation of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity and its unsustainable use has increased the risk of disease spillover from wildlife to livestock and from animals to people. Climate change exacerbates this danger and increases the risks from vector-borne diseases. Our response to the pandemic, and the way we plan and implement the recovery from its economic and social impacts, can determine whether the world continues on its unsustainable trajectory, or whether we collectively seek a new future, one of living in harmony with nature, while addressing countries’ sustainable development needs. This webinar will highlight the links between the health of the planet and the health of people and explore how the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, combating land degradation, and fighting climate change can help to reduce the risks of future pandemics as part of an inclusive and comprehensive “One Health” approach. Register here.

COVID-19 recovery that builds back better needs to take into account equipping families and communities to be self-sufficient, meeting their daily needs as much as possible from their immediate environment, no matter what the economic circumstances their country is going through. Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is a sustainable land managed technique developed and popularized by the Land 4 Life Award winner Tony Rinaudo. Adoption of FMNR and the changed behaviors that accompany it, is a low-cost, rapid and scalable way to better ensure that happens.  Who is it for? Field-based staff who are working directly with communities to promote and roll-out FMNR – either in a current or future project Existing FMNR practitioners who what to share their experiences, further extend their knowledge and connect with a global community of peers. Managers or technical advisors who want to familiarise themselves more deeply with FMNR  What will I learn? Journey with a global group of peers and expert facilitators to learn how to promote and support FMNR adoption in your local community. The eWorkshop will include:  Planning for FMNR roll-out in a community  Sensitisation meetings and creating spaces for the community to discuss the impact the environment has on their well-being  Understanding the physical FMNR practice and tips for teaching it  Identifying and selecting FMNR champions  Building relationships and ensuring FMNR is inclusive  Troubleshooting when FMNR isn’t going well  Where to find more FMNR information Time commitment 15 weeks, including a 4-week break for field work ( September 2 – December 8,2020) 3-4 hours work per course week Registration process World Vision staff and implementing partners register here Self sponsored partners register here Registration deadline: August 15, 2020 Cost A special rate of $500 ($200 savings) More info Technical_Academy@wvi.org FMNR resources Overview of FMNR The FMNR Hub FMNR – a good news story (video) FMNR changing lives in Uganda (blog) FMNR Everything is Connected (video) "The Forest Maker" – a book about the impact of FMNR