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In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most MercifulYour Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley,Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,It is a pleasure to join you today, through this recorded message, on this important occasion that celebrates a remarkable national achievement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.What we celebrate today—the rehabilitation of one million hectares of degraded land—is not merely a number. It is tangible proof that land restoration is possible, even in the most challenging environments. It is an achievement realized on the ground, supported by science, guided by an integrated approach, and driven by a clear determination to create change.At a time when the world is facing an unprecedented acceleration in land degradation and worsening drought impacts, this achievement sends a powerful message:that solutions exist, and that collective action can turn challenges into opportunities.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has demonstrated how countries—even in arid environments with limited water resources—can lead a global model in ecosystem restoration by adopting nature-based solutions, leveraging innovation, and strengthening the integration between policies and practices.This achievement also stands as part of a broader national vision under the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims not only to plant trees, but to restore ecosystem functions, enhance biodiversity, and ensure the sustainability of natural resources for future generations.What further distinguishes this effort is its reliance on rigorous scientific methodologies for measurement and verification, enhancing the credibility of results and offering a model that can be replicated globally.Ladies and gentlemen,Land restoration is not only an environmental issue—it is a development and humanitarian imperative.This achievement directly contributes to:Strengthening food security,Supporting local economies,Creating jobs,Enhancing resilience to climate change,And improving the quality of life for communities. At both regional and global levels, land restoration is a key tool for addressing broader challenges, including reducing drivers of displacement and migration linked to land degradation, enhancing stability in fragile regions, and supporting international efforts for climate adaptation and resilience.What we are witnessing today in the Kingdom also reflects the power of partnerships, where government, private sector, and society have come together to achieve this milestone. It confirms that multilateral action is not an option, but a necessity to deliver the transformation required.In this context, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification highly values the Kingdom’s leadership role—through the Middle East Green Initiative, the Global Land Initiative, and its Presidency of the Conference of the Parties—contributing to raising global ambition and strengthening collective action.Ladies and gentlemen,Land restoration is an investment in people, in stability, and in a more sustainable future.What has been achieved today is not the end of the journey, but an important step along a longer path that requires continued commitment, accelerated action, and expanded partnerships.In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this outstanding achievement and for its continued role in advancing the global environmental agenda.We look forward to continuing this constructive collaboration toward a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.Thank you, and peace be upon you.  

The shift to renewable energy is picking up momentum, and with it comes a practical question: how do we scale clean power without putting more pressure on land that supports food, nature and livelihoods?  A recent report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) looks at how renewable energy and sustainable land management can work together when projects are planned with land and people in mind. During the webinar on the report findings, UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Andrea Meza noted, “There are ways in which we can deploy these technologies in different landscapes while ensuring food and water security and protecting biodiversity. It is possible to reduce negative impacts and have positive ones if we start putting in place integrated land use plans as part of the strategy for deploying these technologies.” To avoid catastrophic climate change impacts, the world must rapidly transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources. The share of renewable energy in the power mix is likely to continue growing rapidly, as countries strive to fulfil their emission reduction commitments and the cost of renewable energy technologies continues to shrink.  “The starting point was: how can we make sure that the expansion of renewable energy does not come at the expense of sustainable land management and our efforts to halt land degradation globally? What are the main strategies to make sure that new renewable energy installations do not lead to land degradation?” explained IISD Indicator Lead and report co-author Stefan Jungcurt. Today, renewables account for around 30 per cent of global electricity mix, with solar power growing most rapidly, doubling capacity every three years. That momentum has a land dimension. Renewable energy technologies interact with land systems in complex ways, influencing land health and productivity, the provision of ecosystem services and local socio-economic outcomes. Many renewables require more land than fossil fuels when you factor in energy farms, spacing and enabling infrastructure.  The report mentions that solar power needs about twice the land footprint of coal-fired electricity and wind energy can require up to 12 times more largely because of spacing between panels and turbines. However, the land between these components can often be put to good use and a larger footprint does not have to translate into degraded land or land use conflicts. Risks arise when renewable energy expansion is driven only by energy objectives, and land considerations arrive late.  “The report is a joint response to overlapping challenges of climate change, land degradation and desertification and energy poverty. Clean energy and sustainable land management do not need to compete for space or resources. A well-designed renewable energy system can work with land rather than against it,” said the Interim Head of the Pan-African Cooperation and Educational Technologies Division at the United Nations University Vice-Rectorate in Europe Emmanuel Cheo.  One of the most attractive options is dual land use: placing energy infrastructure alongside other productive uses on the same land. Dual-land-use systems can help align land-energy planning, finance and implementation and unlock synergies to advance climate action, biodiversity goals and land restoration together rather than on parallel tracks. The report points to the Land Degradation Neutrality response hierarchy as a practical way to structure action:  Countries can avoid land degradation by siting renewable energy systems on land or freshwater systems that have already been degraded or modified by human activities. Solar, wind and bioenergy farms on low-impact sites can be explicitly designed to reduce reliance on wood and charcoal for fuel, helping avoid further deforestation and land degradation. Countries can reduce land degradation by designing and implementing dual-use approaches such as agrivoltaics which pairs solar with crops or grazing, eco-voltaics which combines solar with restoration or conservation goals and wind farms on rangelands where most of the surrounding land can still be used. Integrating renewables with sustainable land and water management through regenerative agriculture, agroforestry and silvo-pastoralism can increase food production, enhance drought resilience, conserve biodiversity and reduce post-harvest losses. “There have been a lot of methodologies developed to avoid and minimize the negative impacts. Integrating these considerations into the early planning stage is very important. We also found that the operation of solar photovoltaic plants can improve soil conditions and the micro-environment but an integrated and aligned policy framework is critical,” said International Renewable Energy Agency's Programme Officer Jinlei Feng. Countries can reverse land degradation through carefully chosen locations for solar and wind, or through bioenergy approaches such as harvesting invasive species or cultivating feedstock on marginal or degraded land. For example, solar energy systems can support land restoration through shading or wind protection, providing clean energy while promoting soil health and vegetation growth under the solar panels. “Countries are trying to decarbonize their economies, meet rising energy demands and at the same time deliver on the commitments under all three Rio Conventions. The good news is that renewable energy and sustainable land management are not in competition by default. We can avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation as we deploy renewables,” said UNCCD Chief Scientist Dr. Barron J. Orr. A key takeaway from the report is that dual-land-use systems will only deliver results if the right conditions are in place: coordination across sectors, clear governance and regulatory frameworks, finance and incentives. Community engagement and capacity building help ensure that people who work the land can influence siting and project design, take part in implementation and share fairly in jobs, energy access and other benefits.  When done right, the renewable energy transition can support sustainable land management while strengthening food security and livelihoods. With UNCCD COP17 set to spotlight the world’s rangelands the message is timely: land that sustains rural and pastoralist communities can also accommodate well-designed renewable energy systems that support resilience without adding pressure. The report titled “A Natural Fit: Renewable energy and sustainable land management” was prepared by IISD in collaboration with UNCCD and UNU and with funding support from the European Union. You can watch the recording of the webinar on report findings below: 

Restoring land is no longer a question of knowing what to do. Countries across regions and income levels have identified interventions where land is degrading and how drought risks can be reduced. What now determines whether these plans deliver real impact is their financing. “We have reached a point where the challenge is not a lack of commitment or solutions,” said Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). “The challenge is whether our financial systems are able to support the scale of transformation that land restoration and drought resilience require.” Meeting global land restoration and drought resilience targets will require around USD 355 billion per year between 2025 and 2030 – far more than is currently being invested. As long as land is not considered a strategic asset, rather than treated as a secondary environmental concern, this gap will persist. Why existing financing approaches fall short Today’s financial systems are not designed for the scale, timeframes, or risk profiles that land restoration demands. Public budgets in many countries are under pressure, shaped by competing development priorities and raising sovereign debt levels that result in limited fiscal space. Responsibilities for land, water, agriculture and climate are often split across institutions, complicating coordinated investment. Private investment has so far played a limited role. While interest in sustainability is growing, land restoration often involves longer time horizons and higher perceived risks. Without mechanisms to share risk, capital continues to flow elsewhere – even as UNCCD works to mobilize companies and investors through its Business4Land (B4L) platform, including the launch of the B4L Champions’ Council in 2026. The result is a persistent mismatch: the economic costs of land degradation continue to accumulate across food systems, water security and national economies, while investment remains far below what is required. Closing this gap requires a shift in investment logic – recognizing land restoration as core economic activity, not a side project. “Investing in land is one of the smartest investments available today,” Fouad said. “It reduces risk, strengthens resilience and delivers returns that far exceed the cost.” For development banks and public financiers, this means positioning land restoration not as a niche environmental issue, but as a strategic asset class – one that underpins food security, climate resilience and long-term stability. Turning finance into delivery In many countries, fiscal policies continue to favour land-degrading activities, while restoration remains underfunded. Redirecting incentives – by reforming subsidies and aligning taxation and public spending with sustainable land management – can change the economics of land use, making restoration financially viable rather than marginal. Aligning agriculture, water, climate and economic strategies is critical to making financing more effective and durable. When policies pull in different directions, investment fails to deliver lasting results.  Mobilizing private investment at scale will also depend on reducing risk. Strategic use of public and concessional finance can absorb early risks, unlocking private capital at a scale that public budgets alone cannot reach. International cooperation remains essential, particularly for countries facing the largest restoration and drought resilience needs. When used strategically, public finance can mobilize additional resources while delivering benefits that extend beyond national borders. The cost of inaction The economic consequences of inaction are already visible. Land degradation, desertification and drought already cost the global economy close to USD 900 billion each year, through lost productivity, soil depletion, drought damage and carbon emissions. By contrast, scaling up investment in land restoration and drought resilience could generate USD 1.8 trillion in annual benefits- an estimated eight-to-one return on investment. These gains go beyond economics, strengthening food security, reducing vulnerability and supporting more resilient societies. Every year of delay increases the economic, social and environmental costs. From COP16 momentum to COP17 delivery Financing was central to discussions at the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP16), which mobilized political attention, launched new partnerships and secured more than USD 12 billion in pledges for drought resilience. COP16 showed that political momentum exists. The challenge now is whether financing systems can convert that momentum into delivery. Attention is now shifting to COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. With the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026 approaching, the focus will increasingly turn to implementation.  Rangelands alone cover more than half of the Earth’s land surface and support the livelihoods of over one billion people, yet remain among the most underfinanced ecosystems globally. For the UNCCD, the road to COP17 is about ensuring that financing frameworks are designed to deliver -capable of translating ambition into measurable impact on the ground. A defining moment The plans are in place. The solutions are known. The ambition is clear. What will define the coming decade is whether financial systems evolve to match that ambition – recognizing land as a strategic investment and financing it accordingly. “If we align finance with the value of land,” Fouad said, “we can restore ecosystems, strengthen resilience and secure a future that delivers for both people and planet.” 

Jimmy Mariscal grew up in the hills of the Panama Canal Basin, where coffee bushes were simply part of daily life. His grandparents tended their caracolillo plants for home use, drying the cherries in the sun and brewing just enough for the family. Coffee was tradition, not livelihood ---a practice handed down quietly through generations.  Today, Jimmy is one of thousands of small producers who have benefited from a long-term partnership between Basin communities and the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). Over two decades, this collaboration has helped farmers shift from traditional plots to climate-resilient agroforestry systems that protect biodiversity, stabilize soil, and conserve water resources.  The Basin today is the result of decades of community-led stewardship and ACP support --a more resilient and sustainably managed landscape. This long-term partnership led Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), to the Panama Canal’s Miraflores Visitors Center on 3 December, during a field visit organized by ACP and the Ministry of Environment of Panama. There, she met Jimmy and the members of Cuencafé, a collective of small producers who grow and process high-quality, climate-resilient coffee. The visit provided a close look at how community-led stewardship supports rural livelihoods while protecting the freshwater system that sustains the Canal. Producers described how the transformation began. ACP understood early on that protecting the Canal’s water depended on the health of the surrounding land —and on the people who care for it. Without authority to enforce conservation, the institution built a model centered on support and incentives. Drawing inspiration from Costa Rica’s experience in rewarding farmers who protect forests, ACP adapted the idea to the Basin, offering producers practical support — from seedlings and technical advice to land titles and community councils that shape decisions. This steady, trust-based partnership strengthened over time. As Raúl Martínez, ACP’s Manager for Socio-Environmental Sustainability, explained: “When restoration helps families improve their livelihoods, it becomes a responsibility everyone shares — and the land stays protected.” Thanks to this incentive-based model - and especially to the introduction of coffee as a viable, high-value crop - farmers gained a reason to keep trees standing and invest in agroforestry systems that conserve soil and water. These choices ultimately made the Panama Canal Basin one of the least-deforested landscapes in the country today. Jimmy’s farm reflects that shift. Supported by community development activities and technical assistance, he introduced improved coffee varieties, planted shade trees, cared for his soil and refined drying and processing techniques. What once served only family needs has become a climate-smart system that supports both income generation and ecosystem health. As more families joined the effort, they formed Cuencafé, whose coffee now reaches Panama City markets. Their agroforestry systems help regulate water and buffer the Basin against intensifying drought — a contribution that matters in a country where 32 per cent of the land — 2.37 million hectares — is already degraded. During the visit, the Executive Secretary listened as producers described how shifting rainfall and rising temperatures have altered their work. She asked in detail about the challenges they now face - how rain has moved, how water scarcity affects planting, and how soils are changing. Farmers explained that years of land restoration -expanding forest cover, diversifying crops and protecting soils - have allowed them to retain water and maintain production, even as drought becomes more common. “What I see here is restoration that works because it begins with people,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad. “When communities are trusted and supported as stewards of their land, they protect the soils that anchor the hillsides, the waters that feed the Canal, and the dignity of the families who rely on both.  The impact extends far beyond individual farms — it strengthens the entire Basin and the generations that will inherit it.” Today, that transformation is visible across the basin. A practice once kept alive for household consumption now helps conserve water, sustain rural economies, and protect one of the most strategic landscapes in the country. What began as small plots of shade-grown coffee has grown into a model of community-driven climate resilience. As Panama hosts UNCCD CRIC23 — the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention, a moment when countries come together to reflect on how they care for their land — the Basin shows how restoration grounded in a long-term partnership, trust,  and community leadership endures, restoring far more than land alone. 

联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）197个缔约方齐聚巴拿马，评估从利雅得到乌兰巴托的工作进展 巴拿马计划到2035年恢复10万公顷退化土地，作为推进土地、气候与生物多样性目标的开创性战略 巴拿马城，2025年12月1日 – 本周，联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）的197个缔约方于巴拿马召开履约审查委员会第二十三届会议（CRIC23），核心议题是应对全球肥沃土地流失和日益严重的干旱。 当前形势十分严峻：如果现有趋势持续，到2050年，几乎与南美洲同等面积的土地（1,600万平方公里）将持续退化，而全球对粮食、水资源和能源的需求却在持续上升。过去三十年间，全球三分之二的土地持续趋于干旱化，而过去两年更是出现了有记录以来最广泛和破坏性最大的干旱。在巴拿马，干旱已影响运河通行，对全球贸易产生显著影响。 联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）执行秘书亚斯敏·福阿德（Yasmine Fouad）表示：“社区、经济和生态系统的韧性取决于健康的土地。然而，每年我们仍在破坏相当于埃及国土面积的土地，削弱土地生产粮食、涵养水源、维系生物多样性的能力，以及保护人类免受干旱、洪水和沙尘暴侵袭的能力。投资可持续土地管理、土地恢复和基于自然的解决方案，不仅是保护环境的必要举措，更是发展的当务之急，也是对稳定、繁荣与和平的战略投资。” “CRIC23是评估我们集体进展的重要时刻，也是加强从利雅得到乌兰巴托联系的关键纽带，并将土地与干旱韧性作为连接三大《里约公约》的核心线索。唯有携手合作，我们才能加速迈向更具韧性、粮食安全且与自然和谐共生的未来。” 从利雅得到乌兰巴托 CRIC23将回顾联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）第16次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP16，2024年12月，沙特利雅得）决议的实施进展，并讨论公约2030年后的路线图。 沙特阿拉伯王国环境、水务与农业部副部长、联合国防治荒漠化公约第十六次缔约方大会（UNCCD COP16）主席奥萨马·法基哈阁下（H.E. Osama Faqeeha）表示：“去年12月在利雅得举行的UNCCD COP16吸引了约十万名与会者，其广泛而多样的参与标志着全球在认识土地退化和干旱的重大影响方面取得了历史性转折，也凸显了加强和加速应对这两大全球性挑战的迫切需求。这直接关系到全球水资源与粮食安全、生物多样性、气候韧性，以及全世界数十亿人的福祉。” UNCCD COP16取得了重要成果，为加强国际多边努力以推进土地恢复和干旱韧性做出了贡献。这包括通过《利雅得宣言》在公约框架下通过了30余项决议，以及根据《利雅得行动议程》宣布近40项倡议，以强化实地行动。 会议将开展专题讨论：以土地权属作为健康土地投资的基础；讨论日益加剧的沙尘暴威胁；并举办第二届性别核心小组会议，为深受土地退化和干旱影响的妇女提供发声平台，她们在支撑全球各地社区生计方面发挥着关键作用。 缔约方还将与其他关键利益相关方，包括青年、土著人民和当地社区进行互动，并发布关于小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）和牧场的新报告。 此外，CRIC23期间将启动三轮干旱韧性非正式自愿对话的第一轮。这一“Tafa’ul”进程由COP16主席团主导，灵感来源于阿拉伯语“ تَفَاؤُل（Tafa’ul）”，意指“建设性的乐观与满怀希望的决心”。CRIC23的建议将为196个缔约方及欧盟在UNCCD COP17前的决策提供参考，COP17将于2026年8月在蒙古乌兰巴托举行。 部长特别顾问兼COP17主席国办公室主任巴特蒙克·东多夫多尔吉先生（Mr. Batmunkh Dondovdorj）强调：从利雅得到乌兰巴托的道路必须成为长期被低估的社区和生态系统的希望之路。COP17的举办恰逢“国际牧场和牧民年（IYRP）”，这将为加速牧场保护议程提供独特的政治契机，这些牧场的消失速度甚至超过热带雨林。 他表示：“此次于巴拿马举行的会议对于奠定成功举办COP17的基础至关重要，这将凸显人类福祉与健康、高生产力且具有韧性的生态系统之间的联系。对于覆盖全球近一半土地面积，养育20亿人口的牧场来说更是如此。但牧场往往被视为空无一物、可随意牺牲的土地。对于蒙古这样一个历史、文化和经济深受牧业影响的国家而言，这并非抽象议题，而关乎着长期被忽视人群的尊严、身份与机会。” 巴拿马的“自然承诺” 今天，巴拿马在其“自然承诺”中强调了土地的核心地位。该承诺是一项路线图，统筹了国家层面在应对土地退化、生物多样性丧失与气候变化方面的努力，旨在利用三大《里约公约》之间的协同效应，更快推进互相关联目标的实现。 作为其“自然承诺”的一部分，巴拿马计划2035年之前恢复10万公顷的退化土地。 巴拿马环境部长胡安·卡洛斯·纳瓦罗阁下（H.E. Juan Carlos Navarro）表示：“自然是全球经济的支柱。巴拿马‘自然承诺’体现了我们恢复关键流域、保护森林、鼓励可持续农业实践的承诺，以增强我们经济和社区的韧性。巴拿马自然基金则确保在全国范围内开展长期的保护行动。时间紧迫：我们必须立即行动呵护自然，这样自然才会继续庇佑我们。” 自1996年加入联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）以来，巴拿马承诺到2030年实现土地退化零增长，确定31个关键生态区，推进植树造林及干旱走廊适应项目，彰显其作为CRIC23东道国的角色。今年，巴拿马成为首个在同一年主办三大《里约公约》会议的国家。 **完** 编辑须知  采访和查询请联系：press@unccd.int 关于 CRIC23 的视觉素材和 UNCCD 数据仪表盘请见： https://trello.com/b/zq0kxtkK/unccd-cric23-panama-2025 媒体机会 新闻发布会： 12：00–13：00 （巴拿马当地时间） 12月1日：开幕新闻发布会 本新闻发布会将介绍CRIC23的主要预期，强调巴拿马领导力，包括其“自然承诺”，并提供COP16及COP17主席团的观点。 讲者： 胡安·卡洛斯·纳瓦罗（Juan Carlos Navarro），巴拿马环境部部长 亚斯敏·福阿德（Yasmine Fouad），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）执行秘书 奥萨马·法基哈（Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha），沙特阿拉伯环境、水和农业部副部长 巴特蒙克·东多夫多尔吉（Batmunkh Dondovdorj），部长特别顾问兼COP17主席国办公室主任 12月2日：小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）报告发布 发布干旱与气候变化对小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）的影响及应对措施的最新简报。 讲者：  安德丽娅·梅萨（Andrea Meza），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）副执行秘书 卡尔文·詹姆斯（Calvin James），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD） 小岛屿发展中国家（SIDS）论坛协调员 弗雷德·尼古拉斯（Fred Nicholas），库克群岛国家环境服务项目官 12月4日：牧场经济学报告发布 发布一份关于牧场的最新报告，牧场对粮食安全和气候稳定至关重要，但其正在迅速消失。 讲者：  马克·绍尔（Mark Schauer），德国国际合作机构（GIZ）项目负责人（联合负责人） 巴伦·奥尔博士（Dr. Barron Orr），联合国防治荒漠化公约（UNCCD）首席科学家  恩里克·米肖（Enrique Michaud）， 国际牧场和牧民年（IYRP）全球联盟联合主席 阿连图雅·多尔久苏仁（Ariuntuya Dorjsuren），蒙古国家联络点，环境与气候变化部国际合作司司长 “国际牧场和牧民年”（IYRP）将于12月启动，这是2026 年 8 月蒙古举行COP17前的一个重要里程碑。 12月5日 – 闭幕新闻发布会 （世界土壤日） 在CRIC23闭幕全体会议后进行，恰逢世界土壤日。该新闻发布会将概述会议成果及其对UNCCD COP17前期筹备的重要意义。 12月3日 –媒体考察：  记者将受邀参加由巴拿马运河管理局（ACP）在米拉弗洛雷斯游客中心（Miraflores Visitors Center）组织的实地考察。此次考察将展示巴拿马运河管理局（ACP）如何将可持续发展和流域保护纳入其长期战略，以保障运河的水资源安全。 关于公约和 CRIC23 的更多信息和媒体更新，请访问 UNCCD 官网 https://www.unccd.int/cric23 关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）是全球土地的共同愿景与声音。我们联合各国政府、科学家、政策制定者、私营部门和社区，共同推动全球行动，恢复和管理地球土地，以实现人类与地球的可持续发展。UNCCD 不仅仅是一份由197个缔约方签署的国际条约，更是减缓当今土地退化影响、推进未来土地治理的多边承诺，旨在为所有人公平和包容地提供食物、水、住所和经济机会。   关于CRIC23 来自196个国家及欧盟的代表将于2025年12月1日至5日在巴拿马会晤，审查各方在《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）框架下应对荒漠化、土地退化和干旱的努力。《联合国防治荒漠化公约》是三大《里约公约》之一，另两项为生物多样性公约和气候变化公约。UNCCD 履约审查委员会第二十三届会议（CRIC23）将汇集约500名来自政府、民间社会及学术界的与会者，共同评估实现公约目标的进展。 

Land degradation is a global crisis—one that is reshaping landscapes, livelihoods and futures. Each year, vast areas of productive lands are lost, affecting nearly half of humanity and costing the global economy an estimated US$878 billion. In Latin America, over 20 per cent of arable land is already degraded due to deforestation, overgrazing and other types of unsustainable land use. At the heart of the UNCCD is the belief that land is not only a natural resource—it is a source of life, identity and resilience. But while policies and data help define the challenge, it is the stories from the ground that bring its true scale and urgency into focus. Here is where ReVerde plays a crucial role. The documentary-style television programme gives voice to the people behind the headlines—those living with and responding to the impacts of land degradation. From Indigenous communities to small-scale farmers, from urban collectives to rural cooperatives, the programme captures the diverse efforts underway to restore ecosystems, protect local resources and create sustainable alternatives. Aligned with the UNCCD’s vision for sustainable land stewardship, ReVerde explores both the challenges and the solutions. It highlights community-led restoration, the importance of ancestral knowledge and the risks posed by unregulated development. Ahead of this year's Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June 2025, hosted in Bogotá, Colombia, with the theme— “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities.”— ReVerde stories remind us that restoration is not an abstract goal, but a daily effort being led by communities on the ground. The benefits are clear: land restoration can reverse more than US$1 trillion in agricultural productivity losses, strengthen food security for over a billion people and create millions of sustainable jobs. But to meet global targets, a significant funding gap—currently US$278 billion per year—must be closed. In telling the stories of land and those who care for it, ReVerde does more than inform—it inspires, builds understanding, sparks dialogue  and brings us closer to a future where land is restored, protected and valued for generations to come. In its next chapter, ReVerde turns its lens to the global observance of Desertification and Drought Day—continuing its mission to spotlight the people and places at the heart of our planet’s most pressing challenges.