Remarks by the UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw Welcome to the nineteenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention. This is a unique session, for reasons that we would have preferred to avoid. This is the first session of the UNCCD to be held online. The…

UN TV webcast The nineteenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 19) to the UNCCD will be conducted online from Monday, 15 March to Friday, 19 March 2021. The five daily online meetings will last for two hours from 12:30 – 2:30 pm Central European…

Bonn, Germany – At least 90 countries have already set voluntary national targets to restore more than 450 million hectares of land under UNCCD – the largest global restoration initiative and a significant milestone for the Convention. But where is the land that is being restored? How many people…

Statement by UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw This year International Women’s Day celebrates the theme ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’. After a year of unprecedented impacts from the pandemic, it’s clear that women globally have been disproportionately…

UNCCD relies on the input of expert women in implementing its mandate. In particular, the members of our Science-Policy interface (SPI), which guides the application of world-leading science into meaningful and impactful policy that we, our Parties, and our partners can use on the ground. The SPI…

Message by the UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw This year World Wildlife Day celebrates the theme ‘Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet’. Currently, up to 350 million people live within or close by forests, including some of our most ecologically diverse ecosystems…

In this corner of the UNCCD, I will occasionally share my thoughts and highlight significant developments of interest to our readers and stakeholders. As with most international organizations, COVID-19 impacted our work. But I am convinced that we are moving in the right direction and that now is…

This year's Desertification and Drought Day theme has been announced. "Land restoration can contribute greatly to post-COVID19 economic recovery. Investing in land restoration creates jobs and generates economic benefits, and could provide livelihoods at a time when hundreds of millions of jobs are…

TIME GMT+2 PROGRAMME 09:00 14:30 Musical performances by Malpais and Over the Border Video greetings from high-level officials and celebrities Dialogue with World Wildlife Fund on green economic recovery and its impact on ecosystems and the global food system 2021 Land for Life Award ceremony Panel…

This year UNCCD Science-Policy Interface member Dr. Rattan Lal has received the prestigious civilian Padma Shri Award from the Indian government for his revolutionary research in the field of soil science, which helped millions of smallholder farmers produce larger yields while taking better care of…

On 3 June 2021, GLF will host the first-ever digital conference focused entirely on Africa’s drylands and how integrative restoration practices can see them flourish once again. The program will feature inspiring speakers, latest science, concerts, film screenings, virtual tours and networking…

Bonn, Germany – To celebrate the World Wetlands Day and to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Ramsar Convention, UNCCD has joined other international organizations for a virtual panel discussion "Wetlands: Securing fresh water for all" on 1 February 2021. Often regarded as “free goods” in…

Statement by the UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw Arabic | Chinese | French | Russian | Spanish Joseph Biden Jr., President of the United States, issued an Executive Order yesterday outlining the bold steps his administration will take to tackle the climate crisis at home and throughout…

Bonn, 13 January 2021 – Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification Ibrahim Thiaw welcomes the announcement that the Government of Canada is set to invest up to 55 million Canadian dollars in the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund. The Fund supports private sector projects…

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE Bonn, 13 January 2021 – Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification Ibrahim Thiaw welcomes the announcement that the Government of Canada is set to invest up to 55 million Canadian dollars in the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Fund. The Fund supports…

The ambitious Great Green Wall for the Sahel and Sahara Initiative has received at least 14.326 billion United States Dollars in new funding. The funding will fast track efforts to restore degrading land, save biological diversity as well as create green jobs and build resilience of the Sahelian…

COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE Bonn/Paris, January 11, 2021 – The ambitious Great Green Wall for the Sahel and Sahara Initiative (GGW) has received at least 14.326 billion US dollars in new funding. The funding will fast track efforts to restore degrading land, save biological diversity as well as create…

Biodiversity is our life insurance, but it is under threat. The COVID19 crisis has dramatically changed our lives; and it has also brought to the forefront the crucial need to better preserve biodiversity. Our lives and economies rely on nature. France, together with the United Nations and the World…

Biodiversity is our life insurance, but it is under threat. The COVID19 crisis has dramatically changed our lives; and it has also brought to the forefront the crucial need to better preserve biodiversity. Our lives and economies rely on nature. France, together with the United Nations and the World…

Bonn, Germany – The COVID-19 pandemic is the most recent crisis facing the humankind, but unless we ease the pressure on nature, it might not be the last, warns the new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that includes an experimental index on human progress that takes into…

By UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw for The Africa Report The Climate Ambition Summit of this month marks the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. World leaders meeting online are being asked to deliver stronger, more ambitious commitments that will spark action to halt the unfolding…

Co-Chairs, Council members, Fellow colleagues Heads of the Conventions’ secretariats, Ladies and Gentlemen: First, allow me to express my gratitude to Dr Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, for his kind invitation. I wish him great success in his new role as CEO of the Global Environmental Facility. We are…

Your Excellency Barbara CREECY, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries of South Africa and Chairperson of AMCEN, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for bringing us together today to address an urgent threat to humanity. The COVID-19 is more than a health crisis. It is a socio…

UNFCCC SBSTA 52 Climate Dialogues: Dialogue on the relationship between land and climate change adaptation related matters Opening remarks by UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw Excellencies, Colleagues and friends, I am truly delighted to be here today. I want to congratulate my friend Tosi…

En español Central American Committee on Environment and Development (CCAD) and the UNCCD signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at a virtual ceremony on 27 November to promote cooperation in combating desertification between the convention and the countries in Central America and the Caribbean…