Press releases

牧场占全部土地的 54%，多达 50%的牧场已经退化、 危及人类 1/6 的食物供应和地球 1/3 的碳库 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》报告 为恢复和更好地管理牧场指明了方向并敦促保护畜牧业 波恩/乌兰巴托—联合国在今天发布的一份报告中严厉警告道，由于被过度使用和滥用、以及气候变化和生物多样性的丧失，地球上广阔无垠的天然牧场和其他牧场正在退化，对人类的粮食供应和数十亿人的福祉甚或生存构成严重威胁。 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）在蒙古乌兰巴托发布的《全球牧场和牧民土地展望专题报告》的作者称，多达50%的牧场已经退化。 牧场退化的症状包括土壤肥力和养分下降、侵蚀、盐碱化、土壤板结抑制植物生长。所有这些都会导致干旱、降水波动以及地上地下生物多样性的丧失。 造成这一问题的主要原因是：人口增长和城市扩张、粮食、纤维和燃料需求的快速增长、过度放牧、弃牧（牧民不再维持放牧）以及鼓励过度开发的政策，导致牧场转为耕地和其他土地用途的变化。 什么是牧场 （rangeland）？ 地球陆地植被中的牧场类别主要包括牲畜和野生动物用于放牧和觅食的天然草地。 牧场类别还包括热带草原、灌木林、湿地、苔原和沙漠。  这些土地加在一起占所有土地覆盖面积的 54%，占全球粮食产量的六分之一，并占地球碳库的近三分之一。 “当我们砍伐森林时，当我们看到一棵百年老树倒下时，理所当然地会引起我们许多人的情绪反应。而另一方面，对古老牧场的改造则是在 ‘无声’中进行的，很少引起公众的反应，” UNCCD执行秘书易卜拉欣-蒂亚乌（Ibrahim Thiaw）说。 “可悲的是，这些广袤的土地以及赖以生存的牧民和牲畜饲养者通常没有得到足够的重视，” 蒂亚乌先生补充道: “尽管全球估计有 5 亿人，但牧民社区经常被忽视，在直接影响其生计的决策中缺乏发言权，被边缘化，甚至经常被视为自己土地上的局外人。” 蒙古环境部长巴特-埃尔代内-巴特-乌尔齐（Bat-Erdene Bat-Ulzii）阁下说：“作为欧亚大陆最大草原的守护者，蒙古在改造牧场时一直非常谨慎。蒙古的传统建立在对资源限制的认识之上，把流动性作为战略，确立了对土地的共同责任，并限制对土地的消耗。我们希望本报告有助于人们关注牧场及其在文化、环境和经济方面的巨大价值。如果这些牧场无法养活如此庞大的人口，他们还能有什么其他出路？” 蒙古将于 2026 年主办《联合国防治荒漠化公约》缔约方大会第十七届会议，这是联合国大会根据蒙古的倡议宣布的 “国际牧场和牧民年”（IYRP）。 全世界有 20 亿人依赖于健康的牧场，他们是小规模牧民、牧场主和农民，通常处于贫困和边缘化状态。 事实上，在许多西非国家，80% 的人口从事畜牧业生产。在中亚和蒙古，60% 的土地被用作牧场，畜牧业养活了该地区近三分之一的人口。 报告强调，具有讽刺意味的是在大多数干旱地区，为了提高粮食安全和生产率，把牧场转变为耕作土地的做法，反而导致了土地退化和农业产量的减少。 报告指出，“治理薄弱且效率低下”、“政策和法规执行不力”以及 “缺乏对牧场社区和可持续生产模式的投资”是破坏牧场的原因。 创新方法 这份报告由来自四十多个国家的六十多位专家共同撰写，他们一致认为，过去对全球退化草场的程度估计约为25%，这一数字“严重低估了草场的健康状况和生产力实际的损失”，而实际的损失可能高达50%。 报告警告称，人们往往对牧场知之甚少，由于缺乏可靠数据，而难以实现对牧场在粮食供应和气候调节方面的巨大价值的可持续性管理。 报告详细介绍了一种创新的概念方法，该方法将使决策者能够稳定、恢复和管理牧场。  新方法以世界各地区的案例研究为基础，从牧场管理的成功和失误中汲取了重要的经验教训。 核心建议：保护畜牧业，这种可追溯到几千年前的流动生活方式，核心是以牧场为基础生产绵羊、山羊、牛、马、骆驼、牦牛、骆马或其他驯化的食草动物，以及野牛和驯鹿等半驯化物种。  蒂亚乌先生说：“从热带到北极，畜牧业都是一种理想的默认选择，通常也是最可持续的选择，应将其纳入牧场使用规划”。 许多国家的经济引擎 牧场是许多国家的重要经济引擎，也是各种文化的基础。世界上四分之一的语言都在牧场上被使用，牧场也是众多世界遗产的所在地，数千年来塑造了牧民的价值体系、风俗习惯和身份认同。 报告包括对各个国家和地区的详细分析。 例如，畜牧业生产占埃塞俄比亚国内生产总值的 19%，占印度国内生产总值的 4%。巴西的牛肉产量占世界总产量的 16%，其农业综合企业 GDP 三分之一来自畜牧业。 在欧洲，许多牧场已让位于城市化、植树造林和可再生能源生产。 在美国，大片草原被改种农作物，而加拿大的一些草原则因大规模采矿和基础设施项目而变得脆弱。  但也有许多积极的方面，例如，两国都在加大力度重新引进野牛--一种对土著人民具有重要文化意义的动物--以促进牧场健康和粮食安全。 世界上受牧场退化影响最严重的地区（降序排列）： 中亚、中国、蒙古 私有化和农业产业化取代了政府的管理和监督，导致牧民被遗弃，赖以生存的自然资源匮乏，造成了普遍的退化。 传统畜牧业和以社区为基础的畜牧业正在逐步恢复，推动可持续牧场管理取得重大进展。 北非和近东 气候变化对世界上最干旱的地区之一的影响正在使牧民陷入贫困，并使他们赖以生存的牧场退化。 通过更新传统制度（如阿格达尔Agdals——一种紧急情况中用于喂养牲畜、可以实现资源再生的饲料库）以及初具雏形的支持性政策，牧场管理方式正在得到改善。 萨赫勒和西非 冲突、权力平衡和边界问题阻碍了牲畜的流动，导致牧场退化。 统一政策的制订、对牧民权利的承认以及跨境协议的达成正在重新确立畜牧民的流动性，这对景观恢复至关重要。 南美洲 气候变化、与农业工业化和采掘活动相关的森林砍伐以及土地用途转换是南美洲牧场退化的主要驱动因素。 世界上一些最有趣的牧场包括潘帕、塞拉多和卡廷加草原以及普诺安第斯系统，恢复这些牧场的关键是确保牧民系统的多功能性和多样性。 东非 对土地的竞争性使用（如狩猎、旅游等）造成的迁移和被迫流离失所将牧民从其传统土地上驱逐出去，带来的土地退化后果是始料未及的。 妇女主导的倡议和土地权利的加强正在发挥保障牧民生计、保护生物多样性以及维护牧场提供的生态系统服务的作用。 北美 古老草原和干旱牧场的退化威胁着北美标志性生态系统（如高草草原或南部沙漠）的生物多样性。 将原住民纳入牧场治理是帮助恢复这些历史景观迈出的明确步骤。 欧洲 有利于工业化耕作而非畜牧业的政策和错误的激励措施正在导致牧场和其他开放生态系统被遗弃和退化。 政治和经济支持，包括法律认可和差异化对待，可以扭转局势，帮助应对诸如野火频发和烈度增加、气候变化之类的严峻环境危机。 南非和澳大利亚 植树造林、采矿以及将牧场转为其他用途正在导致牧场退化和丧失。 生产者和研究人员共同创造知识，尊重和利用土著社区的传统智慧，为恢复和保护牧场开辟了新的道路。 范式转变 报告总结道，要遏制这种恶化趋势，必须在从基层到全球的各个层面转变管理模式。 该报告的主要作者佩德罗-玛丽亚-埃雷拉-卡尔沃（Pedro Maria Herrera Calvo）说：”负责任的牧场治理关键是所有利益相关者切实参与其中，才能促进集体行动，改善土地使用权，并将传统知识和实用技能融为一体”。 实现 “土地退化零增长”（可持续发展目标 15.3）—— 平衡健康土地的数量和质量，以支持生态系统服务和粮食安全——也需要跨境合作。  报告指出，牧民世世代代在实现与这些生态系统平衡相处方面积累了丰富的经验，他们应该在从规划到决策再到治理的每一个步骤中为这一进程提供帮助。  正如我们在从西非、印度或南美观察到的，干旱到半湿润环境条件下牧场的情况千差万别，因此解决方案必须适合各牧场的具体特点和动态变化。 报告指出，传统的评估方法往往低估了牧场和畜牧业的实际经济贡献，凸显了采用所建议的创新方法的必要性。 主要建议包括 将减缓和适应气候变化战略与可持续牧场管理计划相结合，以增加碳固存和储存，同时提高牧民和牧场社区的复原力 避免或减少牧场转换和其他土地使用变更，特别是在土著和公用土地上的变更， 以免削弱牧场的多样性和多功能性 在保护区内外设计和采取牧场保护措施，支持地上和地下的生物多样性，同时促进大面积畜牧生产系统的健康、生产力和恢复力 采用并支持以牧业为基础的战略和做法，帮助减轻对牧场健康的危害，如气候变化、过度放牧、水土流失、入侵物种、干旱和野火等 促进支持性政策、人民的充分参与以及灵活的管理和治理制度，以提高牧场和牧民为整个社会提供的服务。 其他重要数据 8,000 万平方公里：牧场覆盖的世界陆地面积（超过 54%） 950 万平方公里：全球受保护牧场（12%） 6,700 万平方公里（占地球陆地面积的 45%）：用于畜牧生产系统的牧场面积（占牧场面积的 84%），其中近一半位于旱地。  畜牧业为发展中国家生活在贫困线以下的 12 亿人口中的大多数人提供粮食安全并创造收入。 10亿：100多个国家的牲畜由牧民饲养，养活了2亿个家庭，同时提供了约10%的世界肉类供应以及乳制品、羊毛和皮革制品 33%：全球生物多样性热点位于牧场 24%：牧场语言占世界语言的比例 五千年前：撒哈拉以南非洲的畜牧业首次成为土地使用系统的时间 地区事实与数据 超过 25%和 10%：拉丁美洲养牛业提供的牛肉和牛奶分别占世界总量的 25%和 10%以上。 超过 25%：布基纳法索、马里、毛里塔尼亚、尼日尔和乍得的国内生产总值归功于畜牧业生产 50%以上：中东和北非地区为退化的土地（占可耕地的 25%）  60%：中亚和蒙古的牧场面积，畜牧业养活了该地区近三分之一的人口  40%：中国牧区面积(值得注意的是，从 1980 年到 2010 年，中国的牲畜数量增加了两倍，达到 4.41 亿头)。 3.08 亿公顷：美国毗连地区的牧场覆盖面积，占全国土地总面积的 31%，其中约 55% 的牧场为私人所有 补充意见 “动物饲草地供需失衡导致过度放牧、物种入侵、干旱和野火风险增加，所有这些都加速了全球荒漠化和土地退化的趋势”。 “我们必须将共同愿望转化为具体行动——停止不加区分地将牧场转化为不适当的土地用途，倡导可持续性土地管理政策，对相关研究进行投入以增进我们对牧场和畜牧业的了解，加强牧民社区的能力以维护其可持续性做法，同时掌握新的工具在不断变化的世界中实现繁荣发展，并支持所有利益攸关方，特别是牧民，实施有效措施阻止土地进一步退化，从而捍卫我们的土地、我们的社区和我们的文化”。 -玛丽亚姆-尼亚米尔-富勒    (Maryam Niamir-Fuller)，联合国 2026 国际牧场和牧民年国际支持小组联合主席 “为了子孙后代和经济稳定，我们需要加强大众对牧场巨大价值的认识和保护。由于牧场的动态性质，预测牧场退化对经济、生态和社会造成的后果具有挑战性。管理者需要权威的见解来了解牧场对不同干扰和管理方法的反应，包括更好地捕捉牧场广泛社会重要性的政策工具。” -           卡洛斯-曼努埃尔-罗德里格斯(Carlos Manuel Rodríguez)，全球环境基金首席执行官兼主席 “世界陆地面积的一半以上是牧场——然而这些土地以及居住和管理这些土地的人们在很大程度上被忽视了。牧场是人类食物和饲料的主要来源地，但同时也成了世界经济的‘垃圾场’。  现在是将观念从‘牧场问题’转变为‘可持续的牧场解决方案’的时候了”。 -           联合国国际牧场和牧民年（IYRP）工作组 “牧民在世界上最恶劣的环境中生产粮食，牧业生产支撑着全球近一半土地上农村人口的生计。牧民历来被误解，被边缘化，并被排斥在对话之外。我们需要把牧民和与他们合作的主要行动者聚集在一起，携手合作， 创造对话和牧民发展的协同效应”。 -               联合国粮食及农业组织（FAO） * * * * * 关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）是一项关于良好土地管理的国际协定。它通过确保土地使用者享有可持续土地管理的有利环境，帮助人民、社区和国家创造财富、发展经济，并确保充足的粮食、清洁水和能源。通过合作伙伴关系，《公约》的 197 个缔约方建立了强大的系统，以便及时有效地管理干旱。以健全的政策和科学为基础的良好土地管理有助于整合和加速实现可持续发展目标，增强抵御气候变化的能力，并防止生物多样性的丧失。 https://www.unccd.int 关于国际牧场和牧民年 在蒙古的倡议下，联合国大会将2026年定为 “国际牧场和牧民年”（IYRP 2026），以加强牧场管理，改善牧民生活。这一宣言呼吁联合国会员国对可持续牧场管理进行投入，恢复退化的土地，改善牧民的市场准入，加强畜牧业推广服务，填补牧场和牧业方面的知识空白。2026 年国际国际牧场和牧民年将与蒙古主办的《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十七届缔约方会议同期举行。 https://www.iyrp.info 媒体联系方式 联系人：Fragkiska Megaloudi, fmegaloudi@unccd.int; press@unccd.int Xenya Scanlon，传播主任，xscanlon@unccd.int Terry Collins， +1-416-878-8712 (m)， tc@tca.tc 照片：https://bit.ly/3UqU31m，视频：https://bit.ly/3U8K9QI

Nairobi, 1 March 2024 – Healthy land’s contribution to addressing global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development was the focus of the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 6), which concluded today in Nairobi. The week-long meeting saw the adoption of the first-ever UNEA resolution on land degradation as well as the announcement of the logo and slogan for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2 to13 December 2024. Speaking at the high-level event on combating land degradation for climate and biodiversity, UNEA 6 President and Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development for the Kingdom of Morocco, Leila Benali, noted: “Land is the only common denominator among the three Rio conventions, and it is only through land restoration that we can achieve their objectives. We need to build on what unites us rather than what divides us and start with working and credible solutions when it comes to land and soil health”. Announcing the slogan for COP16, “Our Land. Our Future.”, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “COP16 will be a moonshot moment for land, the Paris equivalent for UNCCD. It is crucial that there is convergence and synergy among the three COPs – biodiversity, climate change, and desertification, all taking place this year". For the first time, UNEA adopted a resolution calling for strengthening international efforts to combat desertification and land degradation, restore degraded lands, promote land conservation and sustainable land management, contribute to land degradation neutrality and enhance drought resilience. These issues will be front and center at UNCCD COP16. On behalf of the COP16 Presidency, Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, said: "Land is not only important for human life but also crucial for biodiversity and maintaining the delicate balance of our environment. We have to recognize the importance of land and other natural elements of our planet, as 24 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are associated with various land use schemes." Through the Saudi Green Initiative, the Saudi government aims to plant 10 billion trees and protect 30 per cent of the Kingdom’s land. Additional quotes: Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which hosted the meeting to review progress in UNCCD implementation last November, said: "Every minute Uzbekistan loses nine square meters of fertile land, and this is a big problem for any country facing land degradation. It is important to bring together political will, science, and finance to address the challenges of climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss". Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said: “Land is where food begins, and without land, we cannot produce food or feed the planet. We need a holistic approach, avoiding fragmentation, and investing in sustainable transformations of our agri-food systems to ensure food security and address climate change and biodiversity loss”. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), said: “Indigenous peoples, who make up 5 per cent of the world's population, protect 80 per cent of the world's biodiversity. They are the guardians of ecosystems and masters of restoring land using traditional knowledge. Direct access to finance, policy coordination, and inclusive decision-making are essential to empowering communities and implementing successful land restoration projects”. UNCCD Land Hero Patricia Kombo from Kenya, who moderated the high-level event at UNEA 6, concluded: “Land degradation is a global challenge that requires concerted action at all levels. It is only by working together that we can restore our land ecosystems, ensure food security, and mitigate the effects of climate change”. For more information: UNCCD Press Office, press@unccd.int, +49 228 815 2820, https://www.unccd.int/, @unccd Recording and photos available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_oSZoVZJF8 https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1QhHqfX_pOFWBuot0ET5hGTogyrWDsq6Q For more information about UNEA 6 and UNCCD COP16 visit: https://www.unep.org/environmentassembly/unea6 and https://www.unccd.int/cop16 About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.

2024 年 2 月 21 日，德国波恩--今年 6 月 17 日的 “荒漠化和干旱日” 将重点关注土地管理的未来。每秒钟就有相当于四个足球场大小的健康土地退化，全球每年退化的土地总面积达 1 亿公顷。  为了阻止和扭转这些令人担忧的趋势，实现到 2030 年恢复 10 亿公顷退化土地的全球承诺，让当代人和后代人参与进来比以往任何时候都更加重要。今年荒漠化和干旱日的主题是 “为了土地联合起来： 我们的遗产，我们的未来”-- 旨在动员社会各界支持可持续的土地管理。  2024 年 6 月 17 日也将是总部设在波恩的《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）30 周年纪念日，该公约是关于土地管理和干旱的唯一具有法律约束力的国际条约，也是与气候变化和生物多样性并列的三项里约公约之一。  《防治荒漠化公约》执行秘书易卜拉欣•蒂奥说： “全球多达 40% 的土地已经退化，影响到全球将近一半以上的人口。然而，解决方案已经摆在桌面上。恢复土地可以帮助人们摆脱贫困，增强抵御气候变化的能力。现在是联合起来保护土地，向全球健康土地的减少和退化亮出红牌的时候了”。  由德意志联邦共和国政府主办的全球纪念活动将于2024年6月17日星期一在波恩联邦美术展览馆举行。  “全世界约有四分之一的人口受到干旱的影响。欧洲的土壤状况也在迅速恶化。保护土壤和土地是一项全球性挑战。今天，我们需要共同采取行动，让子孙后代能够获得重要的自然资源。只有拥有健康的土壤，我们才能养活人类，应对气候和生物多样性危机” 。--德国联邦经济合作与发展部国务秘书约亨•弗拉斯巴尔特（Jochen Flasbarth）。  这次全球纪念活动将汇聚来自世界各地的领导人、青年以及学术界、民间社会、体育界和娱乐界的杰出人士，展示各方联合起来保护土地的强烈愿望，为 将于2024 年 12 月在沙特阿拉伯利雅得举行的有史以来规模最大的联合国土地与干旱会议--《联合国防治荒漠化公约》第十六次缔约方大会拉开序幕。  5 月和 6 月期间，《联合国防治荒漠化公约》组织将与德国联邦经济合作与发展部（BMZ）以及合作伙伴波恩市共同启动 为了土地联合起来（ #UNITED4LAND） 公众宣传活动，并将在波恩市内和周边地区举办各种有关土地管理未来的活动。  波恩市市长卡嘉-多尔纳（Katja Dörner）女士说： “波恩是《联合国防治荒漠化公约》的所在地，也是一座正向 2035 年气候中和目标迈进的城市，共同思考和共同保护气候、自然和土地 是我们唯一的选择。土地关乎我们拥有的一切—而远不止是我们城市所在地的依托。土地是我们农作物生长的土壤、是动植物栖息的家园、是吸水的海绵、是开放的空间， 是凉爽的走廊，更是我们留给子孙后代的遗产” 。  世界各国正在行动，通过从电影放映到足球比赛，从植树到园艺竞赛等一系列教育、文化和体育活动来纪念荒漠化和干旱日。完整的活动计划可在以下网址查阅：https://www.unccd.int/events/desertification-drought-day。  关于荒漠化和干旱日   1994 年联合国大会正式宣布（A/RES/49/115）荒漠化和干旱日，于每年6 月 17日举行纪念活动，其目标如下：     提高公众对荒漠化、土地退化和干旱（DLDD）相关问题的认识，   展示人类主导的预防荒漠化和扭转干旱加剧的解决方案，   在遭受严重干旱和/或荒漠化的国家加强《联合国防治荒漠化公约》的实施。  参加今年的庆祝活动：  了解有关今年荒漠化和干旱日的更多信息，请点击 ：/events/desertification-drought-day/2024  获取 #UNITED4LAND 活动材料，请点击：https://trello.com/b/VdJGolcp/desertification-and-drought-day-2024  了解世界各地荒漠化和干旱日活动的更多信息，请点击：https://www.unccd.int/events/desertification-drought-day/2024/events-around-world  如需在线参与波恩全球纪念活动，请联系： communications(at)unccd.int   更多信息，请联系：   《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）：Xenya Scanlon，+49 152 5454 0492，xscanlon@unccd.int 或 Yannis Umlauf, +49 178 285 8629 yumlauf@unccd.int，并抄送 press@unccd.int   德国联邦经济合作与发展部（BMZ）新闻处 ：电话：+49 (0)30 18 535-2451，电子邮件：presse@bmz.bund.de, www.bmz.de  

利雅得，2024 年 1 月 31 日--沙特阿拉伯王国与《联合国防治荒漠化公约》(UNCCD)签署了 一项协议，为 12 月 2 日至 13 日在利雅得举行的公约缔约方大会第十六届会议(COP16)铺平 了道路。 利雅得缔约方大会第十六届会议将是《联合国防治荒漠化公约》197 个缔约方有史以来规模最 大的一次会议。 这是中东地区是首次举办《荒漠化公约》缔约方会议，也将是沙特阿拉伯有 史以来主办的规模最大的一次多边会议。2024 年也是《联合国防治荒漠化公约》诞生 30 周 年，该公约是与气候变化和生物多样性并称为里约三公约的三大环境条约之一。 在今天于利雅得举行的签字仪式上，沙特环境、水和农业部长兼第十六届缔约方会议主席阿卜 杜勒-拉赫曼-阿卜杜勒穆赫森-法德利(Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley)说: "在沙特阿拉 伯王国主办此次会议(COP16)体现了英明领袖在国家、地区和国际层面对环境保护的承诺。 此外，沙特阿拉伯还启动了几个开创性的环保项目，如沙特绿色倡议和中东绿色倡议。 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》执行秘书易卜拉欣-蒂奥说: "今天，我们正在以惊人的速度丧失肥 沃的土地，危及全球稳定、繁荣和可持续性。利雅得缔约方大会第十六届会议必须成为标志性 的转折点，标志着我们对待最宝贵资源--土地和共同应对全球干旱紧急状况方式的转变。 根据《联合国防治荒漠化公约》的数据，全球多达 40% 的土地已经退化，影响了半数人类， 对我们的气候、生物多样性和生计造成了严重后果。如果目前的趋势继续下去，到 2030 年， 我们需要恢复 15 亿公顷的土地，才能实现一个土地退化零增长的世界。 干旱在世界各地发生的频率更高、强度更大--自 2000 年以来增加了 29%--其原因不仅在于气候 变化，还在于我们管理土地的方式。全球四分之一的人口已经受到干旱的影响，预计到 2050 年，全球四分之三的人口将面临缺水问题。 利雅得缔约方大会第十六届会议将重点动员世界各国政府、企业和社区加快土地恢复和抗旱行 动，以此作为粮食、水和能源安全的基石。 在为期两周的活动中，将举行高级别会议以及相关活动，包括性别问题核心小组和企业促进土 地论坛。 利雅得缔约方大会第十六届会议将作为在缺水最严重以及受荒漠化和土地退化影响最严重的地 区举行的缔约方大会，届时将展示沙特阿拉伯、中东地区及其他地区为实现以可持续土地管理 为基础的绿色转型所做的努力。 更多信息，请联系 Wael A Bushah，沙特阿拉伯王国环境、水和农业部环境意识和能力提高司司长， Wbushah@mewa.gov.sa Xenya Scanlon，《联合国防治荒漠化公约》传播、对外关系和伙伴关系主管， xscanlon@unccd.int 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》新闻办公室， press@unccd.int, +49 228 815 2820, https://www.unccd.int/, @unccd #联合国防治荒漠化公约第十六届缔约方会议(UNCCDCOP16) 关于《联合国防治荒漠化公约》 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》(UNCCD)是全球的土地愿景和声音。我们将各国政府、科学家、 决策者、私营部门和社区团结在一个共同愿景和全球行动周围，为人类和地球的可持续发展恢 复和管理世界土地。《联合国防治荒漠化公约》不仅仅是一项由 197 个缔约方签署的国际条 约，它还是一项多边承诺，旨在减轻当今土地退化的影响，促进未来的土地管理，从而以公平 和包容的方式为所有人提供食物、水、住房和经济机会。

Together KenGrow, Flux, Hiveonline and CYNK will deliver digital infrastructure alongside new regenerative agriculture techniques to increase climate finance inclusion for Kenyan women in rural communities.    Dubai, December 2023. CYNK, a leading climate finance platform founded in Nairobi, Kenya, announces a new partnership with KenGrow and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to provide funding and expertise to women smallholder farmers in emerging economies. The first climate smart regenerative agriculture project, based in Kisumu, Kenya, will see CYNK teaming up with KenGrow, a foundation that builds bridges between communities within Kenya and Flux, an organisation specialised in Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), headquartered in Nairobi. Leveraging Hiveonline’s digital community finance platform KenGrow members will have access to financial inclusion tools that give women greater control of their finances.   CYNK's cutting-edge technology is set to empower women members of the KenGrow group in rural communities through a groundbreaking UNCCD Climate Smart Agriculture project. This partnership unlocks a triple win: increased income, climate resilience, and digital inclusion.    Women farmers will generate additional income by sequestering carbon on their farms and earning carbon credit revenue streams via CYNK's platform. This reduces their reliance on expensive synthetic fertilizers, further boosting their profits and yields. Additionally, CYNK's virtual training empowers them to adopt innovative, nature-positive farming techniques, specifically tailored to the cyclical nature and seasonality of agriculture. This builds resilience and paves the way for long-term success. The Kisumu-based project will combine Flux’s pioneering regenerative agriculture technique, with KenGrow’s networking and training opportunities. Flux reduces the overreliance on synthetic fertilizers by providing a natural soil health improver in the form of volcanic rock powders. This technique has the potential to sequester up to 5 gigatons of CO2 per year globally. It will support the socio-economic development of 2,000 Kenyan women in grassroots rural and peri-urban communities. Sudhu Arumugam, CEO at CYNK, commented: “We are proud to partner with these prestigious organisations to provide female smallholder farmers an opportunity to enhance their farming expertise and generate additional revenue streams via our carbon credit platform. It is critical to deploy scalable technology like regenerative agriculture to promote women’s financial resilience, protect soils relied upon by local communities and contribute to global climate goals.”  Louise Baker, Managing Director of the Global Mechanism at UNCCD, added: “We are excited to launch our Climate Smart Agriculture project in partnership with KenGrow and CYNK. It is clear that female smallholder farmers need to be at the forefront of climate action - this program will strengthen their capacity to apply positive agricultural and climate resilient practices. Investing in women’s access to funding and expertise is not only a question of justice but a commitment to the prosperity of our lands.”    For media inquiries contact London  Tristan Peniston-Bird, Portland Communications  +44 7772 031 886, Tristan.Peniston-Bird@Portland-Communications.com Pauline Guenot, Portland Communications +44 7379 068 832, Pauline.Guenot@Portland-Communications.com  Nairobi Joel Chacha, Portland Communications +254 722 909 251, Joel.Chacha@Portland-Communications.com About CYNK CYNK is an end-to-end platform that covers the lifecycle of a carbon or biodiversity credit. From origination, financing and secondary trading of carbon, CYNK is a one-stop platform for the origination of high-integrity credits with fully immutable audit trails of digital Monitoring Reporting and Verification (dMRV) via blockchains. https://www.CYNK.io

Bonn/Dubai, 9 December 2023 – Germany will host the next Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June 2024, which will also mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), one of the three Rio Conventions alongside climate and biodiversity. The announcement was made today on the margins of UNFCCC COP28 underway in Dubai, UAE by Mr. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, and Ms. Katja Dörner, Lord Mayor of Bonn and member of the Local Government for Sustainability (ICLEI) Global Executive Committee on Climate Action and Low Emission Development Portfolio. Land is the foundation of human wellbeing and plays a key role in regulating the planet’s climate. Yet up to 40 per cent of the planet’s land is degraded, affecting nearly half of the world's population. Since 2000, the number and duration of droughts has increased by 29 per cent, representing a severe risk to ecosystems and peoples’ livelihoods. The 2024 Desertification and Drought Day will focus on the transformative power of healthy land for addressing today’s most pressing and interconnected challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food and water security—a blueprint for providing future generations with a healthy planet. The Day will amplify a renewed global commitment to sustainable land management and drought resilience in the run-up to UNCCD COP16, scheduled for 2-13 December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, said: “Desertification and Drought Day 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. In 1994, the world community sent a clear signal by ratifying the only legally binding treaty promoting good land stewardship. Restoring degraded land and soil provides the most fertile ground to take immediate and concerted action for our planet's health. Now, it is time to reaffirm this global commitment by unleashing land’s potential—for present and future generations.” The Federal Republic of Germany, through the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), will host the global observance on 17 June 2024. The event will engage prominent international and German personalities and the public at large to raise awareness about desertification, land degradation and drought. Mr. Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development, said: “No matter whether we are talking about climate change, biodiversity loss, pandemics, or food crises – soil quality plays a central role for meeting these global challenges. Soils retain water and allow trees and plants to grow. We will only be able to feed humankind and deal with the climate crisis and its impacts if we have healthy soils. In 2024, when the UN Convention to Combat Desertification celebrates its 30th anniversary, the German government will be hosting Desertification and Drought Day thus sending a signal for strong international efforts against the loss of fertile soils.” The City of Bonn, which has hosted the UNCCD Secretariat since 1999, will organize a series of events around 2024 Desertification and Drought Day. The City will play its part in highlighting the role of local governments in land restoration efforts, by displaying examples of sustainable land use practices linked to urban policies. “As Mayor of Bonn, home to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, I am thrilled that Germany is hosting the Desertification and Drought Day 2024. Here in Germany’s United Nations City is the place where the debates on climate, nature and land come together – and from where cross-cutting actions for implementing the 2030 Agenda are advanced. I full heartedly welcome the Desertification and Drought Day here in Bonn! Together with the Federal Government of Germany and under the leadership of the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms. Svenja Schulze, I will be delighted to host a meaningful event engaging political leaders, the land community, cultural stakeholders and a broader public alike”, Katja Dörner, Lady Mayor of Bonn, said via video statement. Officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 (A/RES/49/115), Desertification and Drought Day, marked annually on 17 June, is a unique occasion to highlight human-led solutions to prevent desertification and reverse intensifying droughts by investing in sustainable land use practices. 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary since the adoption of UNCCD, one of the three Rio Conventions. Desertification, along with climate change and the loss of biodiversity, were identified as the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. With its 197 Parties, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention seeks to support countries to address desertification, land degradation, and drought. A remarkable journey from milestone initiatives such as Africa’s Great Green Wall, the largest living structure on the planet, to the establishment of Land Degradation Neutrality targets – a pledge by 130 countries to end land degradation by 2030. Germany has been a strong supporter of the convention throughout its history. During the past 30 years, Germany has contributed politically and financially as one of the most active partners acknowledging the importance of healthy land and soil - both as a cause of and a solution to some of the most critical challenges for humanity these days. For more information, please contact: UNCCD: Xenya Scanlon, +49 152 54540492, xscanlon@unccd.int or Yannis Umlauf, +55 21 979820903, yumlauf@unccd.int with copy to press@unccd.int and/or unccd@portland-communications.com Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ): Press Office, +49 30 18 535 – 2158, presse@bmz.bund.de, www.bmz.de City of Bonn: Department of Press, Protocol and Public Relations, +49 228 77-3000, presseamt@bonn.de, www.bonn.de About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.

IDRA co-chairs Senegal and Spain hold a high-level event at COP28 Australia, Colombia, Comoros, Italy and the Commonwealth are latest to join   Dubai, 1 December 2023—As 2023 is ending as the warmest year on record, the global platform to prepare the world for harsher droughts, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) , welcomes eight new members, signaling a growing political will to act against one of most deadly and costly natural disasters in the face of climate change. The addition of six countries and several major intergovernmental and research organizations, announced at the UN Climate Summit COP28 in Dubai, brings the total membership of IDRA to 36 countries and 28 organizations. The countries joining the alliance this year are Australia, Colombia, Jordan, Italy, Uruguay and the Union of the Comoros, which currently chairs the African-Union. In addition, the Commonwealth Secretariat, as well as three other organizations-- the Climate Commission for the Sahel Region (CCRS), the Central American Commission for Climate and the Environment (CCAD) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), member of the global research partnership CGIAR – were also announced as joining IDRA. Together, they represent efforts to build evidence-based resilience at the country, regional and global level. Launched at UN Climate Summit COP27 by the leaders of Spain and Senegal, IDRA is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. The alliance devoted 2023 to building awareness at the highest political level. From 2024, IDRA will draw on the collective strengths of its expanding membership to advance concrete policies, actions, and capacity-building initiatives for drought preparedness, acknowledging we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The IDRA secretariat is hosted by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). United in action IDRA co-chairs emphasized the urgency of building drought resilience as global freshwater demand is projected to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, and they commended new members for their commitment to changing the way the world addresses drought. “Drought knows now borders, meaning we need common action and solidarity to face the emergency,” said President of Senegal, H.E. Macky Sall, who noted that droughts affect 1.84 billion people throughout the world, 85 percent of them in low- and middle-income countries. Central to that action, he said, is the transfer of technologies, sharing of experiences, and exchange of best practices, as well as a just energy transition. Prime Minister of Spain, H.E. Pedro Sánchez, summed up the achievements of IDRA in its first year, from mobilizing countries and global organizations, to outlining a common framework for action with priority investments for drought resilience, to supporting affected countries to develop their strategies in areas like the Central American Dry Corridor. “Drought is a global phenomenon. For those of you who are not yet members of IDRA, I invite you to join this Alliance to leverage individual efforts and transform them into collective action,” said Sánchez. “Let us build on the political momentum of this COP28 to increase resilience to extreme events.” In turn, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, H. E. Patricia Scotland said: “Many of the 56 Commonwealth countries experiencing extreme weather events will welcome IDRA as a timely opportunity to promote mutual learning and collaborative action on drought resilience. By working together, our countries will be much better placed to implement effective solutions and protect the most vulnerable communities.” The UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw, concluded: “Droughts are a natural phenomenon, but we are making them worse through poor land use, deforestation, and the disruption of the planet’s natural systems, including the climate. What humanity did through neglect, must and can fix through concerted action—or face an increasingly harsh future. Drought resilience at COP28 The latest IDRA members were announced during a high-level event ‘From awareness to action: united for drought resilience in a changing climate’ at COP28. The event brought together the IDRA co-chairs—Senegal and Spain—and members of the alliance to take stock of IDRA’s first year and usher in a next phase focused on action. During the event, UNCCD launched its ‘Global Drought Snapshot’ report, an authoritative compendium of drought-related information and data looking to inform negotiators at COP28, as well as decision-makers and practitioners from around the world. A second high-level IDRA event, scheduled for 9 December and focused on nature-based solutions and financing for drought resilience, will bring together leaders from different countries and agencies to exchange on practical ways to accelerate action. Notes to editors For interviews and enquires please contact: press@unccd.int and/or unccd@portland-communications.com  Photos (credit: UNCCD): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rNhWAFqQxc5ZoDK1QdISbRhaRszoONaF?usp=sharing Social media Twitter: @UNCCD / Instagram: @unccd  For information about IDRA and UNCCD events at COP28 visit: https://idralliance.global and https://www.unccd.int/cop28pavilion About IDRA The International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. As a growing platform of more than 30 countries and 20 institutions, IDRA draws on the collective strengths of its members to advance policies, actions, and capacity-building for drought preparedness, acknowledging we are only as resilient to drought and climate change as our land is. The work of IDRA is aligned with, and supportive of, the mandate of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which hosts the IDRA Secretariat. For more information: https://idralliance.global. About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.

UNCCD launches ‘Global Drought Snapshot’ report at COP28 in collaboration with International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) Recent drought-related data based on research in the past two years and compiled by the UN point to “an unprecedented emergency on a planetary scale, where the massive impacts of human-induced droughts are only starting to unfold.” According to the report, ‘Global Drought Snapshot,’ launched by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) at the outset of COP28 climate talks in the UAE, few if any hazard claims more lives, causes more economic loss and affects more sectors of societies than drought. UNCCD is one of three Conventions originated at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The other two address climate change (UNFCCC) and biodiversity (UN CBD).  Says UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw: “Unlike other disasters that attract media attention, droughts happen silently, often going unnoticed and failing to provoke an immediate public and political response. This silent devastation perpetuates a cycle of neglect, leaving affected populations to bear the burden in isolation.” “The Global Drought Snapshot report speaks volumes about the urgency of this crisis and building global resilience to it.  With the frequency and severity of drought events increasing, as reservoir levels dwindle and crop yields decline, as we continue to lose biological diversity and famines spread, transformational change is needed.”  “We hope this publication serves as a wake-up call.” Drought data, selected highlights: 15–20%: Population of China facing more frequent moderate-to-severe droughts within this century (Yin et al., 2022) 80%: Expected increase in drought intensity in China by 2100 (Yin et al., 2022) 23 million: people deemed severely food insecure across the Horn of Africa in December 2022 (WFP, 2023) 5%: Area of the contiguous United States suffering severe to extreme drought (Palmer Drought Index) in May, 2023 (NOAA, 2023) 78: Years since drought conditions were as severe as they were in the La Plata basin of Brazil–Argentina in 2022, reducing crop production and affecting global crop markets (WMO, 2023a) 630,000 km2 (roughly the combined area of Italy and Poland): Extent of Europe impacted by drought in 2022 as it experienced its hottest summer and second warmest year on record, almost four times the average 167,000 km2 impacted between 2000 and 2022 (EEA, 2023) 500: years since Europe last experienced a drought as bad as in 2022 (World Economic Forum, 2022) 170 million: people expected to experience extreme drought if average global temperatures rise 3°C above pre-industrial levels, 50 million more than expected if  warming is limited to 1.5°C (IPCC, 2022) Agriculture and forests 70%: Cereal crops damaged by drought in the Mediterranean, 2016–2018 33%: loss of grazing land in South Africa due to drought (‌Ruwanza et al., 2022) Double or triple: Expected forest losses in the Mediterranean region under 3°C warming compared to current risk (Rossi et al., 2023) 5: Consecutive rainfall season failures in the Horn of Africa, causing the region’s worst drought in 40 years (with Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia particularly hard hit), contributing to reduced agricultural productivity, food insecurity and high food prices (WMO, 2023). 73,000 km2: average area of EU cropland (or ~5%) impacted by drought, 2000-2022, contributing to crop failures (EEA, 2023) $70 billion: Africa’s drought-related economic losses in the past 50 years (WMO, 2022). 44%: Expected drop in Argentina’s soybean production in 2023 relative to the last five years, the lowest harvest since 1988/89, contributing to an estimated 3% drop in Argentina’s GDP for 2023 (EU Science Hub, 2023) Water conditions 75%: Reduction of cargo capacity of some vessels on the Rhine due to low river levels in 2022, leading to severe delays to shipping arrivals and departures (World Economic Forum, 2022) 5 million: People in southern China affected by record-low water levels in the Yangtze River due to drought and prolonged heat (WMO, 2023a) 2,000: backlog of barges on the Mississippi River in late 2022 due to low water levels, causing $20 billion in supply chain disruptions and other economic damage (World Economic Forum, 2022) 2–5 times: Acceleration of long-term rates of groundwater-level decline and water-quality degradation in California's Central Valley basins over the past 30 years due to drought-induced pumpage (Levy et al., 2021)  Social dimensions  85%: People affected by droughts who live in low- or middle-income countries (World Bank, 2023) 15 times: Greater likelihood of being killed by floods, droughts and storms in highly vulnerable regions relative to regions with very low vulnerability, 2010 to 2020 (IPCC, 2023) 1.2 million: people in the Central American Dry Corridor needing food aid after five years of drought, heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall (UNEP, 2022) Remedies Up to 25%: CO2 emissions that could be offset by nature-based solutions including land restoration (Pan et al., 2023) Almost 100%: Reduction in the conversion of global forests and natural land for agriculture if just half of animal products such as pork, chicken, beef and milk consumed today were replaced with sustainable alternatives (Carbon Brief, 2023) 20 to 50%: Potential reduction in water waste if conventional sprinkler systems were replaced by micro-irrigation (drip irrigation), which delivers water directly to plant roots (STEM Writer, 2022). 20%: EU’s land and sea areas to be made subject to restoration measures by 2030, with measures in place for all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050 (European Council, 2023) $2 billion: investment by AFR100 in African organizations, businesses and government-led projects, announced this year with further anticipated investments of $15 billion to foster the restoration of 20 million hectares of land by 2026, generating an estimated $135 billion in benefits to around 40 million people. (Hess, 2021) 6: Riparian countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo) participating in the Volta basin Flood and Drought management project, the first large-scale, transboundary implementation of Integrated Flood and Drought Management strategies, including an End-to-End Early Warning System for Flood Forecasting and Drought Prediction (Deltares, 2023) ~45%: global disaster-related losses that were insured in 2020, up from 40% in 1980-2018. However, disaster insurance cover remains very low in many developing countries (UNDRR, 2022) 50 km: the resolution of the water distribution maps thanks to a recently-developed method of combining satellite measurements with high-resolution meteorological data, an major improvement from the previous 300 kilometers resolution (Gerdener et al., 2023) The report was unveiled at a high-level event with the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) in Dubai (webcast at www.youtube.com/@THEUNCCD, 16:00 Dubai time / 12:00 GMT.  It is part of UNCCD’s series of Land and Drought Dialogues at COP28: https://bit.ly/3Gh7GZd).  Launched by the leaders of Spain and Senegal at COP27, IDRA is the first global coalition creating political momentum and mobilizing financial and technical resources for a drought-resilient future. Australia, Colombia, Italy and the Union of Comoros, together with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other major international organizations, are being announced at COP28 as IDRA’s latest members, bringing the Alliance’s total membership to 34 countries and 28 entities. Additional highlights from the report: Several findings in this report highlight land restoration, sustainable land management and nature positive agricultural practices as critical aspects of building global drought resilience. By adopting nature-positive farming techniques, such as drought-resistant crops, efficient irrigation methods, no-till and other soil conservation practices, farmers can reduce the impact of drought on their crops and incomes. Efficient water management is another key component of global drought resilience. This includes investing in sustainable water supply systems, conservation measures and the promotion of water-efficient technologies. Disaster preparedness and early warning systems are also essential for global drought resilience. Investing in meteorological monitoring, data collection and risk assessment tools can help respond quickly to drought emergencies and minimize impacts.  Building global drought resilience requires international cooperation, knowledge sharing as well as environmental and social justice. “Several countries already experience climate-change-induced famine,” says the report. “Forced migration surges globally; violent water conflicts are on the rise; the ecological base that enables all life on earth is eroding more quickly than at any time in known human history.” “We have no alternative to moving forward in a way that respects the planet’s boundaries and the interdependencies of all forms of life. We need to reach binding global agreements for proactive measures that are to be taken by nations to curtail the spells of drought.” “The less space the developed human world occupies, the more natural hydrological cycles will stay intact. Restoring, rebuilding and revitalizing all those landscapes that we degraded and destroyed is the imperative of our time. Urban intensification, active family planning, and curbing rapid population growth are prerequisites for societal development that respects planetary boundaries.” About  The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss. 

Land & Drought Pavilion to be set in the Blue Zone / Opportunities Petal from 1-10 December Bonn (Germany), 23/11/2023 – To mark their presence at the UN Climate Conference (COP28), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be co-hosting the first-ever Land & Drought Pavilion together with its two flagship initiatives: the G20 Global Land Initiative and the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), as well as partners, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). From 1st to 10th December, the Pavilion will curate a broad range of high-level dialogues, innovation showcase sessions, and interactive discussions highlighting the importance of healthy land as a climate solution and the urgent need to build drought resilience. UNCCD will also be launching its Drought in Numbers 2023 report and announcing next year’s Desertification and Drought Day– which will mark the 30th anniversary of the Convention. All sessions will be open to accredited COP28 delegates and held in the Blue Zone / Opportunities Petal, Thematic Arena 4, 1st floor, stand 205 and livestreamed on UNCCD’s YouTube and Facebook channels. Among the highlights of the programme: The Opening Dialogue, Raising Land & Drought on the Climate Agenda on 1 December will convene partners and experts to discuss expected outcomes from land and drought conversations at COP28. The high-level event of the International Drought Resilience Alliance co-chaired by Spain and Senegal leaders on 1 December will see the launch of Drought in Numbers 2023 report. IDRA will also welcome new member countries and update on progress achieved thus far. A high-level event “Rio Conventions on the Road to 2024” will bring together the leadership of the three Rio Conventions: CBD, UNFCCC and UNCCD. A high-level dialogue on women’s land rights will be hosted on 4th December, which will also coincide with Gender Equality Day at COP28. On 6th December, several start-ups will gather in the Pavilion to showcase their land restoration innovations, in a hackathon format. A high-level session will take place on 9th December, where the Convention will announce the host country of the next Desertification and Drought Day, 17 June 2024. Remarks from high-level representatives from the host country and city are expected. Youth-led dialogues, including panels on empowering female ecopreneurship and a Youth4Land Intergenerational Dialogue. A ‘Dry delights reception’ will be hosted on the last day of the Pavilion (10th December). Experts will showcase drought-resilient foods, namely water lentils, explaining the production process, walking attendees through its nutritional benefits, and providing an opportunity to taste. Notes to Editors The detailed programme and timings can be found here: https://unccd.int/cop28pavilion Daily highlights from the sessions will be available on UNCCD’s website. Visual assets are available here: https://trello.com/b/6EexwgYj/unccd-cop28-dubai-2023 For additional information on UNCCD’s presence at COP28 and other media-related enquiries, please contact press@unccd.int and/or unccd@portland-communications.com About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 Parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.

Samarkand, 17 November 2023 – Halting and reversing rapid land loss around the world is key for addressing global challenges of climate change, food and water security, and forced migration, concluded the five-day conference of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The 21st session of the Committee to Review the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC21) was hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan in Samarkand from 13-17 November, bringing together some 1,000 delegates from 117 countries representing governments, civil society and academia. The meeting marked a halfway checkpoint towards reaching the global goal to end land loss by 2030. It also focused on tackling worsening sand and dust storms and droughts, in the region and beyond, and empowering women in land restoration efforts. UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: “Land degradation and drought are disruptors, wreaking havoc on societies and people’s lives, and throwing millions on the dangerous roads of migration. We must urgently scale up investment in land restoration to ensure stability and prosperity for billions of people around the world.” The meeting convened against the backdrop of new UNCCD data collected from 126 countries, indicating that some 420 million hectares, an area roughly the size of Central Asia, were degraded between 2015-2019. If current trends persist, a staggering 1.5 billion hectares of land will need to be restored by 2030 to reach global goals. Commenting on the outcomes of CRIC21, Biljana Kilibarda, CRIC Chair, said: “Convening for the first time in Central Asia, this meeting was an opportunity to put stronger emphasis on the relevance of problems of land degradation and drought to the whole region and the role of international cooperation in solving them. We reviewed the progress in the implementation of the Convention and provided recommendations to accelerate our efforts.” On 15 November, the Government of Uzbekistan convened a high-level event on sand and dust storms. According to UNCCD experts, more than 2 billion tonnes of sand and dust enter the atmosphere every year, with far-reaching implications for economies, human health, and even security. Obidjon Kudratov, First Deputy Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, commented: “This high-level event brought recognition of sand and dust storms as a global problem.” He also noted that the Central Asian region is losing US$ 6 billion a year to land degradation. For the first time, a two-part Gender Caucus convened during CRIC to advance the implementation of the Convention’s Gender Action Plan, and bolster women’s engagement in land restoration and drought resilience efforts. CRIC21 recommendations will inform decision-making by the Convention’s 196 country Parties and the European Union ahead of the next UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP), to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024. UNCCD is one of three Conventions originated at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro alongside climate change (UNFCCC) and biodiversity (CBD). CRIC21 convened just under two weeks before the start of the UNFCCC COP28 in Dubai, UAE. “We are in a vicious circle, where land degradation is fueling climate change and climate change is exacerbating land loss in the world. Our message to COP28 is clear: we are only resilient to climate change as our land is,” concluded Thiaw.   Notes to editors For interviews and enquires please contact: press@unccd.int and/or unccd@portland-communications.com More information about the 21st session of the UNCCD Committee on the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC21): https://www.unccd.int/cric21 About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship in order to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.