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Across Mexico’s rural and indigenous communities, land is more than a resource – it is central to daily life, food production and cultural identity. Yet for many – especially women and indigenous peoples – secure access to land remains out of reach.Over 70 per cent of Mexico’s land is at risk of degradation. At the same time, women – who produce more than half of the country’s food – own less than 30 per cent of farmland. This growing gap between those who care for the land and those who control it threatens sustainable land use. Without secure land rights, many are excluded from decisions that shape their environment and future.To tackle these challenges, Mexico launched a series of national consultations on land tenure and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Designed to improve land governance systems, the consultations emphasized gender equality, indigenous rights and local perspectives as key pillars of the country’s LDN strategy.Held across several regions, they brought together 45 participants – 30 women and 15 men – including indigenous leaders from Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Sonora and other states. Almost all of these leaders were women, who shared their experiences managing community lands and protecting ecosystems.The Changwon Initiative: Making inclusion possibleThe consultations were made possible in part by support from the Changwon Initiative – a programme of the Korea Forest Service and UNCCD – with additional backing from international partners. Funding through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) helped cover key logistical costs, ensuring rural and indigenous voices could be heard.This support ensured that traditionally excluded groups – especially indigenous women from ejidos (communal lands) – were not only present, but central to the dialogue. Many shared firsthand stories about barriers to land inheritance, being sidelined in local decision-making and the urgent need to revive degraded soil and ecosystems.“Women living in the countryside are becoming the protagonists of social, political and economic change,” said Dr. Maribel Méndez de Lara, Magistrate of the Superior Agrarian Court. “Land ownership gives women legal protection, autonomy to make decisions and the ability to fully participate in their communities.”From dialogue to actionThe consultations generated concrete proposals, including a Strategic National Programme to regularize land rights for women and indigenous communities, legal guarantees of female representation in ejido decision-making bodies and greater integration of sustainable practices into collective land systems.Participants – particularly rural and indigenous women – gained skills through leadership training, project planning workshops and awareness campaigns that emphasized their right to land and participation in land governance. Government officials and policymakers also benefited, gaining a better understanding of how to design more inclusive land governance systems that truly reflect community needs.“There are 13.6 million women living in rural areas in Mexico,” said Dr. Beatriz Casas Arellanes, Director of Social and Political Participation for Equality of the National Women's Institute (INMUJERES),. “Many of them are already leading community life and preserving biodiversity. What they need is recognition and access to rights.”Innovative tools and approachesThe consultations were guided by a participatory approach developed under the UNCCD–FAO Joint Initiative and based on the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT). Adapted to Mexico’s social and political context, this method ensured that rural leaders, women, government officials and international experts all had a voice.Gender-sensitive tools were used not just to include women, but to ensure their perspectives shaped the outcome.The Dialogue opened with a ceremonial offering called a Tlalmanalli, led by indigenous grandmothers. Made of flowers, seeds and traditional medicines, it served as a reminder that the Earth is alive – and its care, a shared responsibility.Participants also shared inspiring examples already underway, such as mobile legal clinics helping women resolve land disputes and forestry programmes advancing gender equality – small but meaningful signs of change.Lessons learned and the path forwardOne of the key lessons from the consultations is that long-term progress on land tenure requires consistent effort, strong coordination and engagement at all levels. Local and regional consultations – alongside national ones – proved essential for identifying the diverse challenges communities face across the country.Just as important was the finding that inclusive participation leads to better, more grounded solutions. When women, indigenous leaders and local actors are part of the process, outcomes are more relevant – and more likely to last.While the broader policy impact is still unfolding, the consultations helped establish a foundation for more inclusive land governance in Mexico. These conversations laid the groundwork for future strategies and reforms that reflect the realities of those who live and work on the land.Shaping the future of land rights and restorationThe Changwon Initiative played a pivotal role in making these consultations possible – not only by providing funding, but by championing inclusion as a core principle of land restoration. Its support helped ensure that rural and indigenous voices, especially those of women, were not just heard but helped shape the conversation.By backing this process, the Changwon Initiative demonstrated how targeted international cooperation can drive national progress – setting a global example for integrating land tenure security into LDN strategies.Thanks to this support, communities across Mexico now have stronger tools – and a stronger voice – to secure their land, protect their environment and build a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Each year, the fashion industry produces over 60 million tonnes of clothing, making it a major contributor to global pollution and climate change—and deeply intertwined with the land it relies on. From fibre production to garment disposal, its impact on land, water and biodiversity is undeniable. Yet few realize that the very fibres in our clothing have profound effects on the land they come from. Over 40 per cent of textiles come from cotton and cellulosic fibres—crops that require intensive land and chemical use.Without intervention, the fashion industry is projected to use 35 per cent more land by 2030—an area equivalent to 115 million hectares—roughly the size of Ethiopia—highlighting the urgent need for sustainable land management practices.Beyond the connection between fashion and land, issues of land tenure and gender are crucial to driving meaningful change. Of the approximately 300 million people employed in fashion, women make up over 65 per cent of the industry’s workforce, particularly in the production stages. In rural areas, they play a vital role in growing, harvesting and processing the natural fibres that fuel the sector. Yet despite their contributions, only one in five landowners is a woman. Without secure land rights, women are often excluded from key decisions on how land is used and managed. Research shows, however, that when women do own the land they work on, they are more likely to invest in sustainable practices—helping to combat land degradation and adapt to climate challenges."Women comprise nearly half of the world’s agricultural workforce, producing 60–80 per cent of the food grown in developing countries, so are poised to lead on sustainable land management practices while keeping their families and communities fed. Despite their vital role, it is alarming to note that fewer than one in five landowners is female. Without land rights, women are not fully engaged in decisions on land use and management. However, studies show that when women own the land they work on, this encourages their dedication to land stewardship to fight land degradation and cope with climate shocks.” — UNCCD Her Land publicationIndigenous peoples, local communities and smallholder farmers are also disproportionately affected by land-use changes driven by fashion supply chains. These communities often lose access to ancestral lands and livelihoods to make way for cash crops and grazing pastures. As climate impacts and social inequalities deepen, a new narrative is emerging—one where gender equality, sustainable land management and circular production patterns intersect.Women-led initiatives are already at the forefront of this shift—advocating for responsible fibre production, promoting sustainable alternatives, improving labour conditions and empowering women, especially in rural and marginalized communities.One such initiative is Tujikuze—a women-led Kenyan enterprise focused on sustainable, circular fashion. By using locally sourced, biodegradable materials and empowering young women through training and employment, Tujikuze exemplifies how fashion can serve both people and the planet. Their model promotes community resilience, environmental stewardship and economic opportunity—showing that ethical fashion is not only possible but already in motion.Tujikuze was among the inspiring examples shared at the recent event “Women leading change: Shaping a sustainable future in fashion,”  held on the margins of the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development. Organized by the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, UNECE, ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, ILO, UNIDO, UNCCD and the UN Office for Partnerships, the event brought together global advocates and entrepreneurs to spotlight the transformative role of women in shaping a more equitable and sustainable fashion sector—and to highlight the industry’s deep connection to the land and natural resources.One central message was underscored: land degradation, gender injustice and unsustainable fashion are interconnected. A people-centered, land-conscious and gender-equal approach is essential to reversing the industry’s harm. Fashion can no longer be separated from the land that sustains it.To heal our relationship with nature, we must redesign our wardrobes from the ground up.

The Women's Land Rights Initiative (WLRI) is a collaborative network of over 60 partners, dedicated to prioritizing women's land rights within the frameworks of the three UN Rio Conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The initiative emphasizes the crucial role of secure and equal rights to land for women in achieving the objectives of these conventions, making the case for integrated approaches to sustainable land use that can synergistically address climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. Ahead of the International Women's Day, our new video showcases why women's secure land rights must be at the heart of healing our relationship with nature. Learn more.    

Dano, Ioba province of Burkina Faso - As dawn breaks, the village of Tambiri, in Burkina Faso's Ioba province, is already quite busy. Women like Dabiré Ngalle, head of the Ngongele women's group, start their day with a sense of urgency, shaped by generations of struggle and survival. Dabiré leads her team into the shea groves, which are the main source of income for their families and communities. Yet these emblematic Sahelian trees are now at the heart of a long-running ecological crisis. Dabiré Ngalle, president of the Ngongele Women’s Cooperative | The women of Tambiri stand together at the heart of their community, bearing generations of knowledge and responsibility for preserving shea trees.The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), often called the "tree of life," has long provided shade, food and income throughout West Africa. In Burkina Faso alone, its economic and cultural value is considerable: some 800,000 tons of shea nuts are harvested each year, with women forming the backbone of this supply chain. But these trees are disappearing.Decades of deforestation, unsustainable farming practices and climate change have decimated the shea tree population. Studies show that drought stress alone has led to seedling mortality rates of up to 40% in some regions. Traditional farming methods, based on slow-growing seeds, are no longer sufficient."Every tree we lose is a piece of our history that is disappearing", Dabiré says in a measured but determined voice.The shea tree is more than a commodity; it's a key species in the Sahel's fragile ecosystem. For many rural women, it provides up to 80 percent of their household income. The production of shea butter, valued worldwide for its cosmetic and therapeutic properties, is both a livelihood and a heritage. But the decline of shea plantations has forced women to adapt in ways that strain their already precarious livelihoods.In Niemi, a neighboring village to Tambiri, memories of the abundance of shea trees are fading. "When I was young, shea trees were everywhere," recalls one woman. "Now the groves are like scattered islands, shrinking every year.The challenges women face go beyond the environmental. In Tambiri and beyond, traditional land tenure practices mean that women often have no guaranteed rights to the land on which they depend. This legal insecurity is a major obstacle to long-term investment in agroforestry or soil restoration.If my husband dies, my farm will be taken over by my in-laws," explains one woman. Her story is repeated throughout the region, where patriarchal norms limit women's autonomy in land-use decisions. Advocacy for land reform has gained momentum, with local leaders and NGOs pushing for policies that grant women ownership or long-term leases, but progress remains slow.Despite the challenges, new initiatives are offering a glimmer of hope. The Global Shea Alliance (GSA), in partnership with local NGOs and international bodies like the UNCCD are introducing regenerative agroforestry practices. These methods aim to balance ecological restoration with economic resilience."We used to plant trees without fully understanding how to take care of them," admits a participant in a training program in Niemi. "Now we know how to take care of the seedlings, so they survive."The programs also provide boreholes, which have reduced the backbreaking work of fetching water, and tricycles, which streamline the transportation of heavy shea nuts. These interventions are modest but meaningful, allowing women to reclaim time and energy for other tasks.The GSA's latest call to action - to restore four million hectares of Sahel parkland by 2030 - is ambitious. This restoration effort dovetails with the Great Green Wall Initiative, a broader strategy to address land degradation across the Sahel. But such large-scale projects often face funding gaps and logistical hurdles."It's not just about planting trees," emphasizes Gilles Amadou Ouedraogo, a UNCCD program officer. "It's about restoring ecosystems, empowering women, and ensuring the long-term viability of these landscapes."As daylight fades in Tambiri, Dabiré reflects on the challenges ahead. For her and the women of the Ngongele cooperative, the struggle is personal and generational. Each tree they plant is a seed of hope, an act of quiet defiance against the forces eroding their world."We're not just planting trees; we're panting for the survival of our children and their children," she says. Her words convey the quiet resilience of a community determined to preserve not just a species, but an entire way of life.The future of shea - and the millions who depend on it - will depend on a delicate balance of politics, environmental stewardship and the enduring determination of women like Dabiré.

新报告展示妇女主导的抗旱解决方案在发展中国家，高达80%的粮食由妇女生产，然而土地所有者中只有不到20%为女性全球与灾害相关的经济损失中，15% 由干旱造成，85.8% 的牲畜死亡也源于干旱德国波恩，2024 年 10 月 15 日--《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）和联合国粮食及农业组织（FAO）的最新报告指出，妇女和女童在面临更大困难的同时，也在应对干旱中表现出了卓越的领导能力。这份报告在国际农村妇女日之际发布，题为《妇女主导的抗旱解决方案》，呼吁更好地认可和支持由妇女主导的相关努力，保护脆弱社区免受干旱破坏性影响。报告还强调，妇女的土地权对于实现粮食安全至关重要。“长期以来，妇女一直被认为是最容易受到旱灾影响的群体，但正如本报告所揭示的，她们也是最具韧性的群体，在应对旱灾这一全球最紧迫的挑战之一中发挥着领导作用，”联合国防治荒漠化公约执行秘书易卜拉欣·蒂奥表示。“世界各地的妇女在抗旱方面展现出的智慧和机智是无穷无尽的。无论是在非洲的萨赫勒地区，还是肯尼亚北部、伊朗、秘鲁或摩洛哥，妇女们都展现出了她们的韧性与能力，在最艰难的条件下依然能够维持家庭的生计。解决性别不平等不仅关乎公平正义，更是一个机会，能够在应对气候变化的斗争中充分发挥未被挖掘的潜力。”性别不平等和不成比例的影响由于长期存在的结构性性别不平等，限制了妇女和女童获得土地、水和金融服务等基本资源的机会，她们在干旱中尤为脆弱。这些不平等还使妇女和女童承担了巨大的劳动负担。在许多干旱地区，妇女主要负责取水，往往需要长途跋涉，威胁到她们的健康和安全。此外，妇女还承担照顾儿童和老人的无偿护理工作，这进一步削弱了她们应对干旱的能力。因此，抗旱项目必须考虑到妇女面临的这些特殊挑战。尽管面临如土地所有权受限等系统性障碍，妇女们仍在开发创新的解决方案，帮助她们的社区适应日益严峻的环境条件。妇女在粮食生产中的作用：在发展中国家，妇女生产的粮食占到 80%，但她们拥有的土地却不到全球的 20%。这一差距限制了她们获得信贷和培训等资源的机会，也削弱了她们准备和应对干旱的能力，加剧了她们在气候变化下的脆弱性。干旱的全球影响：全球与灾害相关的经济损失中，15% 由干旱造成，85.8% 的牲畜死亡也源于干旱。在降水充沛的农业地区，干旱威胁着大量参与农业劳作的妇女的生计。土地退化与贫困：全球多达 40% 的土地已退化，超过 32 亿人受到影响。由于土地退化和干旱，许多妇女不得不走更远的路为家人获取清洁水和采集薪柴。妇女土地权的经济效益：研究表明，保障妇女的土地权可以改善家庭营养水平，增加子女教育投入，并提高整体经济状况。全球妇女领导的抗旱倡议该报告汇集了来自非洲、亚洲和拉丁美洲的 35 个案例，展示了妇女在抗旱方面的领导力。从节水技术到气候智能型农业，这些案例展示了妇女如何推动进步并建设抗旱能力。在秘鲁，牧民妇女结合现代与传统知识，利用生态水文监测管理水资源，确保全年植被支持牲畜，缓解干旱危机。在印度，妇女开发了雨水收集系统，在季风期蓄水，确保干旱时期作物用水，保障粮食生产。在吉尔吉斯斯坦，妇女通过种植药草恢复退化土地，既改善了环境，又创造了可持续的收入来源。展望未来：妇女在第十六届缔约方大会上的领导作用《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）第十六届缔约方会议（COP16）将于 2024 年 12 月 2 日至 13 日在沙特阿拉伯利雅得举行。会议的重点之一将是扩大妇女主导的抗旱倡议，并确保性别平等战略成为全球抗旱工作的核心。增加对这些战略的投资，对于帮助社区应对荒漠化、土地退化和干旱带来的日益严峻的环境挑战至关重要。主要发现：妇女是全球抗旱能力的推动者尽管面临土地所有权有限等系统性障碍，妇女们仍在开发创新解决方案，使她们的社区能够适应日益恶劣的环境条件。妇女在粮食生产中的作用：在发展中国家，妇女生产多达 80% 的粮食，但她们拥有的土地却不到全球的 20%。这种差距限制了她们获得信贷和培训等资源的机会，也限制了她们为干旱做好准备和从干旱中恢复的能力，加剧了她们在气候变化面前的脆弱性。干旱的全球影响：在全球与灾害相关的经济损失中，15% 是由干旱造成的，85.8% 的牲畜死亡是由干旱造成的。在雨水充沛的农业地区，干旱威胁着占农业劳动力很大一部分的妇女的生计。土地退化与贫困：全球多达 40% 的土地退化，超过 32 亿人受到影响。由于土地退化和干旱，许多妇女不得不走更远的路为家人获取清洁水和采集薪柴。妇女土地权的经济效益：研究表明，保障妇女的土地权可以改善家庭营养状况，增加子女教育支出，改善整体经济状况。全球妇女领导的倡议该报告介绍了来自非洲、亚洲和拉丁美洲的 35 个案例研究，展示了妇女在抗旱方面的领导力。从节水实践到气候智能型耕作技术，这些案例说明了妇女如何推动进步和建设抗旱能力。在秘鲁，牧民妇女结合现代和传统知识，利用生态水文监测管理水资源，确保全年植被支持牲畜，缓解干旱危机。在印度，妇女们在季风期间开发了雨水收集系统，在干旱时期确保作物用水，保障粮食生产。在吉尔吉斯斯坦，妇女通过种植药草恢复退化的土地，既恢复了环境，又创造了可持续的收入来源。展望未来：妇女在缔约方大会第十六届会议上的领导作用《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）第十六届缔约方会议（COP16）将于 2024 年 12 月 2 日至 13 日在沙特阿拉伯利雅得举行。《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十六届缔约方会议（包括其性别问题核心小组）的一个重点将是扩大妇女主导的倡议，并确保促进性别平等的战略成为全球抗旱工作的核心。增加对这些战略的投资对于支持社区应对全球荒漠化、土地退化和干旱带来的日益严峻的环境挑战至关重要。编者按该报告由《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）和联合国粮食及农业组织（FAO）出版，并得到了国际抗旱联盟（IDRA）、加拿大政府和德国国际合作机构（GIZ）的支持。与报告作者的网络研讨会Kaschak妇女与女童研究所执行主任、《妇女主导的抗旱解决方案》报告作者、全球性别问题专家洛雷娜-阿吉拉尔（Lorena Aguilar）将于美国东部时间 10 月 15 日 16:00-17:30 （格林尼治标准时间 14:00-15:30）参加网络研讨会。注册： https://unccd-int.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HiTabvUDQpSPGLfBKnvoag下载报告全文 《妇女主导的抗旱解决方案》报告全文英文版：Women-led solutions for drought resilience | UNCCD   媒体咨询媒体垂询，请联系《联合国防治荒漠化公约》新闻办公室：press@unccd.int 或 unccd@portland-communications.com包括照片和视频在内的社交媒体资产可在以下网址获取：https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZRbzjUbDITX0HmOQEQyhLzCvI0vLO3H9UNCCD #HerLand Campaign关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》《联合国防治荒漠化公约》是关于良好土地管理的国际协定。《公约》建设有利环境，支持土地使用者进行可持续土地管理，以此帮助公民、社区和国家创造财富，发展经济，保障获得充足的粮食、清洁水和能源。《公约》的197个缔约方通过伙伴关系建立了强大的系统，以期迅速有效地管理干旱。基于完备政策和科学的良好土地管理有助于整合和加速实现可持续发展目标，增强对气候变化的抵御能力，并防止生物多样性损失。关于“国际农村妇女日”每年 10 月 15 日的 "国际农村妇女日 "强调农村妇女在维持其社区和全球粮食系统方面发挥的关键作用。2024年的主题是"农村妇女为所有人提供优质粮食"，突出她们从作物生产到粮食分配的贡献，尽管她们面临着系统性的不平等，如获得土地、财政资源和决策权的机会有限。作为粮食安全的主要推动者，农村妇女对建立更具复原力和可持续性的农业系统至关重要，这是实现零饥饿和性别平等及其他全球发展目标重要的一步。

The UNCCD Gender Action Plan (GAP) emphasizes the critical importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in implementing the Convention. A key priority of the GAP is to increase women’s access to relevant knowledge and technologies. To fulfill these objectives, UNCCD and the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) joined forces in 2020 to advance gender-responsive Sustainable Land Management (SLM). This collaboration between UNCCD and WOCAT focuses on documenting, analyzing and scaling gender-responsive SLM practices by gathering gender-disaggregated data. A specialized tool, co-designed with gender and SLM experts, identifies gender-based parameters as well as the technical and socio-cultural factors that enhance the adoption of SLM by both women and men. In the initial phase of the project in 2021, WOCAT network partners in 15 countries tested the tool, showing promising results. As the Pambadeniya Women Group from Sri Lanka noted, “Women and men debated on how to guarantee equal opportunities in decision making, participation and fair distribution of benefits.” The data demonstrated that equal access to SLM technologies and approaches is both context- and technology-specific. Five technology group profiles on gender-responsive SLM were developed to show the need for further action. Building on this success and following Decision 24/COP.15, UNCCD and WOCAT are now launching a call for expressions of interest to apply the gender-responsive SLM tool. This initiative aims to gather more country-specific gender-disaggregated data on SLM practices, which will be presented at the upcoming UNCCD COP16 in Ryiadh, Saudi Arabia, this December. We are inviting up to 40 stakeholders to implement the gender-responsive SLM tool in local contexts from September to November 2024. Applications are welcome from UNCCD Parties, civil society organizations, WeCaN members and others involved in sustainable land management. The application deadline is 4 August 2024. Submissions are accepted in English, French and Spanish. For more details on the call, application requirements, and the online application form, please see the side menu. * Please note: the questionnaire is currently being reviewed and updated. The final version of the questionnaire will be available in September 2024