Changwon Initiative

From awareness to commitment: How to anchor the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in an effective action-oriented approach? That’s the challenge that inspired the Republic of Korea as host of UNCCD COP10 in 2011 to propose an initiative promoting science-based and collaborative action towards ending land degradation.

The financial stability and strengthened political backing provided by the initiative -  named after the COP10 venue Changwon and coordinated by the Korea Forest Service - enables the UNCCD to be the global voice for land that is now so direly needed.

The Changwon Initiative’s goals are to: 

Enhance the scientific process: 

• through agreement on target-setting parameters 
• refining impact indicators for monitoring and assessing progress in addressing desertification, land degradation and drought (see  SDG 15)
• organizing scientific advice to policy makers on these issues.
• Mobilize additional resources and facilitating partnership arrangements to:  
• enhance support for Nation Action Programme (NAP) alignment processes 
• provide preventive policies and mitigation plans to address dust and sand storms 
• build synergies between national processes on sustainable land management on the one hand, and those on climate change and biodiversity on the other
• develop sustainable land management initiatives through South-South and North-South cooperation 

Engage the private sector to: 

• include the business community in the implementation 
• build support from international financial institutions 

Promote best practices for: 

• knowledge sharing, awareness raising and dissemination of good practices through the Land for Life Award

Achievements of the Changwon Initiative’s first 10 years: science-based commitments for healthy land

The Changwon Initiative has been an important success factor for some of the most significant results achieved by the UNCCD over the past decade. Its collaborative and evidence-based approach empowers countries to safeguard the soil our lives depend on.