Theme: "Land has true value – Invest in it!"

The World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) was celebrated worldwide on 17 June 2018 with the focus on sustainable land management as a way to regenerate economies, create jobs and revitalize communities. Under the slogan “Land has true value – Invest in it,” WDCD2018 called all involved – producers, consumers and policy makers – to make a difference by investing in the future of land. 

We often used land as if it were a limitless resource, ignoring its role in our everyday lives. This negligence threatens food and water supply, biodiversity and even human security itself. Short-sighted economic gains such as land grabbing, unplanned urban sprawl, unsustainable agriculture and over-consumption lead to unsustainable land use, which eventually causes degradation and loss of critical ecosystem services. As a result, consumption of the Earth´s natural reserves has doubled in the last 30 years, with a third of the planet´s land already severely degraded.

Global observance in Ecuador

The WDCD2018 global observance was hosted by the Government of Ecuador. The country promotes sustainable land management as one of the pillars of bio-economy – the knowledge-based production and utilization of biological resources, innovative biological processes and principles to sustainably provide goods and services across all economic sectors. Ecuador used the WDCD as an occasion to showcase its nation-wide efforts in making sustainable land management the principal tool for the development of bio-economy.

Events around the world 

Every year, the World Day to Combat Desertification is celebrated in many countries in the world. See below how others celebrated the Day in 2018. 

AFRICA

Algeria
The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishing is planning a celebration of WDCD in all 48 provinces (wilayas). The celebration will involve the participation of managers, companies, investors, youth, and the minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishing (event concept note).

Egypt
Desert Research Center plans to celebrate the World Day at the end of June after the feast of Aid El-Fitr. Details of the activities are being finalized.

Kenya
Kenya’s national commemoration of WDCD will take place on 17 June at Oldonyo Nyokie School, Magadi in Kajiado County. Activities include tree planting, exhibitions, media campaigns, donations of water tanks and dairy goats, and clean-up efforts. Partners include Safaricom, Tata Chemicals, UNDP, and Kajiado County Government.

Niger
The African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development (ANYL4PSD) is conducting a campaign in Maradi (Niger) and Maroa (Cameroon) to promote sustainable land management. A tree-planting activity will also occur in Tchintabaraden on 3 August.

Rwanda
The Green Fighter, a youth group at the University of Rwanda, will educate primary school children in Nyarugenge district on desertification and land degradation on 20 June.

ASIA/PACIFIC

China
The National Forestry & Grassland Administration will host a high-level event in Yulin city (14 June) and an International Seminar on desertification control in Gansu Province. A youth-focused event, “A Greener China,” was held on 26–27 May.

India
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is participating in exhibitions and events for WDCD. Farmers’ groups like Cumulus STAAR and Familial Forestry are organizing tree-planting, workshops, and awareness campaigns.

Republic of South Korea
The Korea Forest Service will host a public event on 15 June in Seoul, featuring exhibitions, tree sapling distributions, and awareness campaigns.

Thailand
The Land Development Department will present “The importance of WDCD and pathway for the implementation of the Convention” on 28 June in Khon Kaen.

United Arab Emirates
The Emirates Environmental Group will launch a paper recycling project, “Recycle. Reforest. Repeat,” on 17 June.

EUROPE

European Union
The European Commission’s International Cooperation and Development will host a workshop and InfoPoint presentation on 18 June in Brussels to discuss sustainable land management.

Spain
Fundacion Agreste and the U.S. Embassy will hold a conference on “The Value of Fragile Ecosystems for Sustainable Development” on 5 June in Pontevedra.

LAC

Colombia
Misión Verde Amazonia will host a seminar on sustainable livestock production (7–9 June) in Florencia.

Ecuador
Ecuador is hosting the global observance event for WDCD 2018.

Venezuela
The Ministry of Ecosocialism and Water will organize forums, reforestation campaigns, and educational activities nationwide.

OTHER

FAO
FAO and China’s Permanent Representation will host a seminar on private-sector roles in combating land degradation on 18 June in Rome.

United States
Algonquin Regional High School (Massachusetts) will run an awareness campaign on desertification and soil erosion on 6 June.

Events included tree plantings, workshops, exhibitions, and policy discussions to promote land conservation and sustainable practices.

To request further information, such as WDCD messages from United Nations officials or press releases in additional languages, as well as past campaign, press or awareness raising materials, please contact secretariat [at] unccd.int (secretariat[at]unccd[dot]int).