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UNCCD SPI takes part in the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion

21 May 2019
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Rome, Italy – Around 500 participants from over 100 countries attended the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19) that took place on 15-17 May to discuss catalyzing efforts for reducing soil erosion – one of the processes of land degradation.

Addressing the forum, UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary Dr. Pradeep Monga stressed that erosion of soil equals erosion of humanity's confidence in its future, since healthy land is the only finite resource in the world. Soil erosion negatively affects food supply, biodiversity, water security and human health.  However, with concerted global action on land use and land management, soil can become a key part of the climate action, biodiversity protection and food security. Healthy soil is the basis for achieving SDG15.3 on land degradation neutrality (LDN), and there is a growing recognition of the need for policies that help create an enabling environment for LDN. Soil science combined with producers' knowledge and experience can help implement solutions that are tailored to local needs and contribute to clear and actionable policy-oriented recommendations that can keep land in balance.

The UNCCD delegation actively participated in GSER19 events, chairing a thematic session and presentations on science, technology and policy, as well as contributing to panel discussions and interactive dialogs to promote the role of LDN conceptual framework and its implementation in achieving SDGs, addressing climate change and safeguarding biodiversity.

GSER19 was co-organized by the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Photo: Side event “Assessing Soil Erosion to Support Land Use Planning and the Achievement of SDG Target 15.3 on LDN” hosted by UNCCD (left to right): Maria Jose Marques Perez (Northern Mediterranean), Victor Castillo Sanchez (Northern Mediterranean), Eduardo Mansur (FAO), Pradeep Monga (UNCCD), Rattan Lal (UNCCD-SPI), Jean Illunga Muneng (President of the UNCCD African Group), Xiaoxia Jia (UNCCD), German Kust (UNCCD-SPI), Juan Jose Gaitan (Latin America and the Caribbean Region).