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Desertification and Drought Day is celebrated every 17 June in every United Nations Member to keep the public informed about the state of the land, nationally and globally. Media are invited to cover the celebrations

The meeting on “Advancing the design of a LDN Transformative Project/Programme in Caribbean SIDS for climate change mitigation and adaptation” took place online on 20-21 May 2021 to coordinate regional collaboration on the development of the new programme and seek synergies with national climate change mitigation and adaptation agendas. The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management in the Caribbean (PISLM), the UNCCD Global Mechanism (GM) and the UNFCCC brought together 24 participants, including National Focal Points (NFPs) of both Conventions and a representative of the GCF secretariat. Following the outcomes of this inception workshop, the next step  in the process will be collecting input on suggested country-specific activities and other additional guidance to share with PISLM, once UNCCD, UNFCCC and GCF NFPs have consulted with relevant stakeholders. All the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (CSIDS) are parties to the UNCCD and UNFCCC, participating actively in the Conferences of the Parties and the activities of both conventions . Under UNCCD, CSIDS are actively engaged in the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Programme of the GM. Welcoming the attendees, the Executive Director of PISLM, Mr. Calvin James remarked on the continued collaboration of the GM with the PISLM, noting that the inception workshop ia a critical stepping stone to support CSIDS in shaping a land-based transformative programme that can boost climate resiliency and address land degradation issues in the region. Ms. Louise Baker, the Managing Director of the GM, highlighted that the CSIDS have always understood the real importance of safeguarding land capital, since for small island states every hectare of healthy land is a precious resource. Ms. Baker also recognized the progress the region has made in setting voluntary LDN targets, with 11 of the 15 participating countries already completing the process. Additionally, during the first day of this workshop, representatives of the GCF secretariat, the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Centre (RCC) at St .George’s and the GM of the UNCCD provided an overview of GCF financial modalities and ongoing support provided for relevant initiatives in the region, including guidance to formulate multi-country funding proposals Current climate change mitigation and adaptation priorities set by CSIDS in their  Nationally Determined Contributions and National Action Plans, highlighting the relevance of the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector and land-based interventions The status of the LDN target setting process in CSIDS and related implementation efforts that require support. The country delegates shared information on the national priorities for climate change mitigation and adaptation, LDN targets and GCF financing. On the second day of the workshop delegates discussed proposed themes and project components to define the scope of both regional and country-specific elements of the proposal and agreed to develop the concept as an umbrella programme proposal to be submitted to the GCF through its simplified approval process. They have also discussed which accredited entity would be best positioned to effectively support countries in the development of this initiative.  

On June 20, 1996 the German government handed over Haus Carstanjen as an office building to the United Nations, a day now celebrated as the birth of Bonn as a UN city. The UNCCD Secretariat moved to Bonn in 1999. Today, Bonn is seen and appreciated worldwide as a genuine UN city with international staff of almost 1 000 and the UN campus hosting 24 different agencies. Sustainable development has become a clear trademark for the UN entities in Bonn supported by Bonn’s environment with numerous international and national governmental and non-governmental organizations, a number of important scientific and academic institutions and the city itself. All of these institutions strive to operate in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way – a unique cluster of excellence. The fact that Bonn also was the capital of Germany for almost 50 years plays an important role, especially in a city of such cozy dimensions. Here, following the Rhineland tradition, people are hospitable, cosmopolitan and knows how to welcome other cultures and lifestyles. That’s why wherever you come from, once you're in Bonn, you feel at home. Adapted from UNRIC news  Read more: UNBonn 25th anniversary UNCCD history 

This young climate advocate studied agronomy and forestry and is leading the movement Art 4 Climate Zambia that cleans up plastic litter and makes it into art. Together with other activists, David collects and sorts litter to make animal sculptures. He also teaches how to repair broken objects instead of throwing them away. He plans to expand this concept and build greenhouses out of litter, exploring the structural color theory. For Desertification and Drought Day 2021, David will lead a tree-planting project in Zambia's capital Lusaka with environmental societies in universities, school groups and the media.  Facebook: @davey.chapoloko  Twitter: @DavidChapoloko  Instagram: @davidchapoloko/  

A recent graduate of a geography and environmental management programme in Nigeria, Ibrahim volunteers with several organizations to plant trees and raise awareness among the youth on the effects of desertification and ways to address it. He writes a blog and draws cartoons to convey messages about land restoration. You can find him on: Facebook: @ibro941  Twitter: @Ibrodollars  Instagram: @ibrodollars/ 

At just 20 years old, Kehkashan is already a global influencer, environmentalist, TEDx Speaker, social enterprise innovator and author. In 2012, she founded the Green Hope Foundation to provide a platform for engagement and empowerment of children and youth, especially those representing vulnerable groups, and turn them into changemakers who address the sustainability issues at a local level. Today, the foundation has 2060 members in 16 countries  across Middle East, India, Brazil, USA, Canada, Europe and South East Asia. Empowering young people is Kehkashan's passion, and she spends a lot of time personally training and guiding many of them through workshops on mangrove conservation and tree planting. Kehkashan is a tireless civil society advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals and holds leadership positions in several organizations.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kehkashan continues her advocacy work through webinars and the #WomenImpactingTheWorld series. You can find her on: Facebook: @greenhopeyouth.greenhopefoundation  Twitter: @KehkashanBasu / @GreenHopeYouth Instagram: @kehkashan5basu / @greenhopefoundation