In a positive environmental turn, a record 120 countries are in the process of setting voluntary land degradation neutrality (LDN) targets that could reduce the loss of productive land dramatically by 2030. At least 80 countries have already set targets, whose implementation could reverse land…

Bonn, Germany – The Executive Secretary of UNCCD Ms. Monique Barbut and the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Ms. Anne Larigauderie have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two organizations. The productive…

The music diversity festival in partnership with UNCCD will take place in Bonn fourth year in a row, bringing together musicians from all over the world to express support for vulnerable populations that face the challenges of land degradation and desertification. Learn more...

Under the patronage of Cabo Verde, in collaboration with Italy and FAO, WASAG announces its 1st International Forum on Water Scarcity in Agriculture to take place Praia, Cabo Verde. The forum aims at identifying concrete – practical, innovative and collaborative – solutions to address water scarcity…

Georgetown, Guyana – Momentum to repair degraded lands and to manage droughts more effectively has picked up, according to reports released for review by an inter-governmental meeting that opened today in Georgetown, Guyana. An assessment of land degradation in 127 countries revealed that close to…

Georgetown, Guyana – Momentum to repair degraded lands and to manage droughts more effectively has picked up, according to reports released for review by an inter-governmental meeting that opened today in Georgetown, Guyana. An assessment of land degradation in 127 countries revealed that close to…

The Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19) will be a science-policy meeting, held at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy. Jointly organized by the UN FAO and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP), the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS), together…

Bonn, Germany – Over the past hundred years, the increase in human populations has been three times greater than during the entire previous history of mankind. More natural resources have been extracted from the earth and more land converted for cities, agriculture and industry than ever before. On…

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following consultations with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to UNCCD announced the appointment of Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania as the next Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. He will succeed Monique Barbut of France, to whom the Secretary…

Bonn, Germany – Reviving damaged lands and the livelihoods of people affected by desertification, land degradation and drought can be possible by 2030, according to participants who attended the intergovernmental committee that reviews the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat…

Bonn, Germany – Reviving damaged lands and the livelihoods of people affected by desertification, land degradation and drought can be possible by 2030, according to participants who attended the 17th Committee to Review the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC17), which ended yesterday in…

To reintegrate the returning migrants and create an alternative to migration for rural youth, The Republic of the Gambia recently submitted a project proposal to the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Impact Programme for USD5.3 million funding under the UNCCD 3S Initiative in collaboration with…

Out of concern that “desertification and drought are problems of global dimension in that they affect all regions of the world,” the international community adopted the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Paris on 17 June 1994. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Convention…

The UNCCD library has opened its archives to revisit the important milestones of the Convention: the first scientific evidence of desertification, authentic papers from the negotiation process before 1994, awareness raising materials and more. In the sunup to the World Day to Combat Desertification…

Monique Barbut served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from 1 October 2013 to 5 February 2019. Ms. Barbut has been committed to the issues of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought through her previous work as Chief Executive…

Ibrahim Thiaw of Mauritania was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on 31 January 2019. He succeeded Monique Barbut of France. Mr. Thiaw brings to the position almost…

The global observance of the 2019 World Day to Combat Desertification in Ankara started with a remarkable performance by Turkish traditional dancers sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey. Another curtain raiser was a video presentation of the World Day celebration, showing the…

Dear UNCCD Focal Points and stakeholders, I am pleased that my first message as the UNCCD Executive Secretary to you is about a very festive occasion. 17 June 2019 will mark the 25th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The day has been celebrated as the World Day to…

The theme 2019WDCD will be celebrated under the theme of 25 years of implementation of the Convention and beyond, focusing on the path the Convention has taken, and the future the Convention could bring. The past 25 years Since its adoption in 1994, UNCCD has contributed to the advancement of…

Seoul, Republic of Korea – Deforestation, land degradation and increased natural disasters top the list of serious environmental issues that affect people’s livelihoods and the economic development of the North-East Asian region in general, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in…

Istanbul, Turkey – Public awareness event conducted by the UNCCD RCU for Northern Mediterranean on 15 February 2019 attracted 25 people who came to learn more about desertification and how it is addressed in Turkey. Presenters Esra Bektaşoğlu and Büşra Öztürk described the work of UNCCD, how…