Other meetings & events

"Forests keep drylands working"World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) is observed every year on 17 June all over the world. The aim of the United Nations in designating a day of observance is to sensitize the public and policy makers to the increasing dangers of desertification, land degradation and drought for the international community.Observance events are designed to get everyone to undertake at least one action each year to help minimize the threat highlighted. Because 2011 was the International Year on Forests, that year’s WDCD was focused specifically on the forests in the drylands areas of the world.Environmental film director John Liu, creator of "Hope in a Changing Climate", has created a 12-minute film to celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD), which is observed this year with the slogan "Forests keep drylands working".Watch the 2011 WDCD film "Forests keep drylands working" Watch John Liu's interview with World Today - BBC World Service Desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) threaten human security by depriving people of the means to decent livelihoods. They undercut food production, access to water and the means to economic activity, and even destroy their homes. At worst, they lead to a breakdown in national and regional security as people are forced to leave their homes or to engage in low- or high-level intensity conflicts over increased or extended periods of resource scarcity.Land degradation in the drylands, commonly known as desertification, begins with the clearing of vegetation, which means “forests are the first step towards healing the drylands and protecting them from desertification and drought,” as Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) observes. Dry forests may become the single most important determinant of the future sustainability of the drylands as the impacts of climate change escalate. The United Nations has designated 2011 as the International Year of Forests to stress the need for forests that serve people. Scientists and experts agree that this link is most evident and felt in the drylands where trees play multiple roles for the communities. They provide food and medicine for the people and their livestock. They are their places of worship and shelter and their decision-making centers. Trees mean life here and are not taken for granted by the close to 2 billion inhabitants that call drylands ‘home’.In his call to the international community when unveiling the 2011 theme, Mr. Gnacadja stated, "If each of us makes the commitment and ensures that just one tree is planted in a degraded part of the drylands and that the tree survives through the year, we could have well over two billion trees in the drylands by the end of the year. That is a tree for every inhabitant. Let us go forth and forest the drylands to keep them working for present and future generations.To request further information, such as WDCD messages from United Nations officials or press releases in additional languages, as well as past campaign, press or awareness raising materials, please contact secretariat@unccd.int .

Theme: "Enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere"The World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) is observed every year on 17 June. In 2010, the Day's slogan was "Enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere".The year 2010 was the International Year dedicated to Biodiversity. To this end, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) aimed to sensitize the public to the fact that desertification, land degradation and drought dramatically affect biodiversity resident in soil.There is a close relationship between livelihood and ecosystem well-being, and soils that are rich in biodiversity. Healthy soils produce life, and yet soil health depends a lot on how individuals use their land. What we do to our soils determines the quality and quantity of the food we eat and how our ecosystems serve us. Our increasing ecological interdependence also means enhancing soils anywhere enhances life everywhere. The WDCD has been observed since 1995 General Assembly Resolution A/RES/49/1995 to promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought, and the implementation of the UNCCD.To request further information, such as WDCD messages from United Nations officials or press releases in additional languages, as well as past campaign, press or awareness raising materials, please contact secretariat@unccd.int .

Theme: "Conserving land and water = Securing our common future"2009 World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) had a special significance for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Fifteen years before, on 17 June 1994, the Convention was adopted.The WDCD is observed every year on 17 June. That year the Day's theme was "Conserving land and water = Securing our common future".Desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) threaten human security by depriving people of their means of life – by taking away food, access to water, the means for economic activities, and even their homes. In worst-case scenarios, they undermine national and regional security, force people to leave their homes and can trigger low- or high-level intensity conflicts.On that WDCD, we reminded everyone that threat to soil security unleashed by desertification, land degradation and the effects of drought constitute a peril to securing our common future.The WDCD has been observed since 1995 (General Assembly Resolution A/RES/49/1995) to promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought, and the implementation of the UNCCD.To request further information, such as WDCD messages from United Nations officials or press releases in additional languages, as well as past campaign, press or awareness raising materials, please contact secretariat@unccd.int. 

Combating land degradation for sustainable agricultureIn order to work along the same lines with the 16th and 17th sessions of the third implementation cycle of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) focusing on the issues of Agriculture, Rural development, Land, Drought, Desertification, and Africa, the UNCCD Secretariat proposed that 2008 celebration of 17 of June to be focused around the themes of Combating Land Degradation for Sustainable Agriculture. This constituted a concrete way to support the discussions of the 16th session and provided useful inputs for the 17th CSD, next May in 2009.The issue is a real challenge in the modern society, both in developed and developing countries, as land degradation cannot be solved by the effort of one country alone due to the increasing concern on climate change. Land degradation intensifies agricultural economic losses, disorganizes local and regional food markets, and causes social and political instability. That year's celebration was also significant in the light of the adoption of the 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (The Strategy) that became a turning point in the UNCCD process. The Strategy recognizes the convention as an instrument to prevent, control and reverse desertification/land degradation and also to contribute to the reduction of poverty while promoting sustainable development.The 2008 World Day to Combat Desertification has been celebrated all around the world. More than 40 events took place at local, regional, national and international level and included workshops, university lectures, cultural exhibitions, awareness raising and promotional activities such as competitions, plant sales, video and film projections and many others. National Governments, Universities, Civil society organizations, NGOs, international organizations, schools, medias and the private sector have all contributed to these celebrations.

The theme for 17 June this year is "Desertification and Climate Change - One Global Challenge". It highlights not only the significant synergy between the two environmental issues, but also their common objective of sustainable development.