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World Soil Day

5 December 2024, Rome, Italy

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

17 June 2024, Bonn, Germany

World Soil Day

5 December 2023, Bonn, Germany

The twenty-first session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC21) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

9 - 13 October 2023, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

International Forum facilitated by the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative: Workshop on ecosystem restoration-related planning and capacity-building needs for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

12 September 2023, Online

Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly (FAO)

12 - 14 July 2023, Rome, Italy

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

17 June 2023, Bonn, Germany

Global Symposium on Soil and Water (FAO)

31 May - 2 June 2023, Rome, Italy

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2023

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2023

World Soil Day

5 December 2022, Bonn, Germany

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

17 June 2022, Bonn, Germany

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of World Water Day

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of World Water Day

Apex scavengers from different European populations converge at threatened savannah landscapes

Over millennia, human intervention has transformed European habitats mainly through extensive livestock grazing. “Dehesas/Montados” are an Iberian savannah-like ecosystem dominated by oak-trees, bushes and grass species that are subject to agricultural and extensive livestock uses.

Biocrusts-Key To Ecosystem Health

Biological soil crusts, known as biocrusts, are lichens, algae, mosses, fungi, and cyanobacteria common on the soil surface.[i]They are critical to arid ecosystems, where they help to reduce soil erosion and maintain stability.

World Soil Day

5 December 2021, Bonn, Germany

How plants survive in one of the driest places on Earth, and what they can tell us about climate change

The coastal region of the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile is one of the driest places on Earth. Less than a millimeter of rain falls there per year on average.

Webinar on land-based jobs for youth: Building your business and seizing opportunities (webinar #3)

2 September 2021, Virtual, Bonn, Germany

Drought threatens to become the next pandemic

"Drought is on the verge of becoming the next pandemic, and there is no vaccine to cure it." "Drought has directly affected 1.5 billion people so far this century, and this number will grow dramatically unless the world gets better at managing this risk," said Mami Mizutori, the United Nations S ...

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2021: "Restoration. Land. Recovery. We build back better with Healthy Land"

17 June 2021, Online, Bonn, Germany

When the soil asks for help

It helps biodiversity to recover. It locks away the atmospheric carbon warming the Earth, slowing climate change. It can also lessen the impacts of climate change and underpin a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restoration of African drylands key to economic growth

On June 2 and 3, more than 7,000 delegates gathered for the first digital conference on African Drylands. The virtual summit was organized by Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) where speakers and participants deliberated on the efficacy of drylands in Africa, and the importance of involving communiti ...

9th Session of the Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly (FAO)

9 - 11 June 2021, Rome, Italy

Restoring Africa’s Drylands - accelerating action on the ground

3 June 2021, Bonn, Germany

Restoring African drylands from within – without myths

Dryland ecosystems cover some 43 percent of Africa. They’re home to more than half a billion people dependent on the land for their food and livelihoods, largely through farming and pastoralism, harbor some of the continent’s most celebrated wildlife and plant species, and produce much of the co ...

High-level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought

20 May 2021, New York, United States of America

Humanity’s challenge of the century: Conserving Earth’s freshwater systems

On April 11, 2020, a band of fighters stormed and seized a water control station in the Libyan Sahara. Taking employees prisoner, they occupied a key nexus that helps move 1.2 million cubic meters (317 million gallons) of water per day — 480 Olympic-sized swimming pools — from freshwater aquifer ...

Feral horses, donkeys dig desert holes to hydrate biodiversity

When it comes to finding water and staying hydrated in desert environments, animals will take all the help they can get. This includes from other wildlife, even ones that pose threats to natural ecosystems.

Global symposium on soil biodiversity 2021 (GSOBI21): "Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity"

19 - 22 April 2021, Online, Rome, Italy

Africa is creating its own Great Wall - and it’s green

Green is not the first colour you typically associate with the arid Sahel region in Africa. But a pan-regional initiative could change this significantly by 2030, following a pledge for new funding of more than $14 billion.

New book presents the rich biodiversity of Thar desert and threats to the landscape

When one thinks of the Thar desert, what comes to mind is a landscape full of sand. But there is more to Thar, the vast desert expanse located in the northwestern part of India. It is also home to several unique flora and fauna species. Many of these are captured in the book, The National Park: ...

Nearly 500 bee species are thriving in a small patch of US desert

There are about 20,000 known species of bee on the planet, and nowhere else is this diversity more concentrated than in southern Arizona along the US-Mexico border. Hundreds of bee species can be found in a patch of desert there about the size of Heathrow airport, meaning it has the world’s dens ...

The nineteenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 19) to the UNCCD. (Online daily from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Central European Time (CET).

15 - 19 March 2021, Online, Bonn, Germany

World Soil Day 2020

5 December 2020, Rome, Italy

Q&A: How Desert Dust Storms Supply Vital Nutrients to the Oceans

When sand and dust storms (SDS) rage in the Sahara Desert, more than 10,000 km away in the Caribbean Sea the very same storms have a range of effects on the 1,360 species of shorefish that populate the waters there.

Get Africa’s Great Green Wall back on track

A plan to green 7,000 kilometres of Africa’s drylands is struggling to take off. Researchers must help.

Statement by Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, at the opening of the Webinar on Building Back Better: Protecting Biodiversity, Combating Land Degradation and Mitigating Climate Change, 10 September 2020

Statement by Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, at the opening of the Webinar on Building Back Better: Protecting Biodiversity, Combating Land Degradation and Mitigating Climate Change, 10 September 2020

High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought

9 June 2020, New York, United States of America

8th session of the Global Soil Partnership Plenary Assembly (FAO)

4 - 5 June 2020, Rome, Italy

Global Symposium on Soil Biodiversity (FAO)

1 - 3 June 2020, Rome, Italy

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of World Wetlands Day

Statement by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of World Wetlands Day

World Soil Day 2019

5 December 2019, Rome, Italy

Heat stress is causing desert bird populations to collapse

As the Mojave Desert in California and Nevada becomes hotter and drier, birds need more water to stay cool.

Fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 14)

7 - 18 October 2019, New Delhi, India

UN desertification conference divided on land ownership and migration

In his speech in Delhi, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, advocated greater cooperation between developing nations, but land tenure and immigration loom over proceedings

The UNCCD Drought Toolbox

New Delhi, India – “Drought is a major obstacle to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 15. We need to move faster in our fight against drought. Let us dust this villain, and mitigate climate change,” said Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD, Executive Secretary in his opening remarks at the Drought Prep ...

India promotes South-South cooperation, but key questions unaddressed

As the second week of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Conference of Parties (COP) kicked off in Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted South-South cooperation and issues of land degradation.

Achieving Global Consensus on How to Slow Down Loss of Land

NEW DELHI, Sep 4 2019 (IPS) - Expectation are high, perhaps too high, as the 14th Conference of the Parties (CoP 14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) now into the third day of its two-week session being held outside the smog-filled Indian capital of New Delhi.

FROM THE FIELD: Restoring life to Ghana’s land

Subsistence farmers in Ghana are learning how to hold back the decline in the fertility of the smallholdings they cultivate while revitalizing their soils as desertification increasingly threatens their land and livelihoods.

India pledges to restore 50 lakh hectares of degraded land by 2030: Environment Minister

Minister says India will take the lead to combat desertification

Namibia made strides to combat desertification

NAMIBIA has made significant strides in implementing the resolutions of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) at national level, a senior official at the environment ministry has said.

India to set voluntary target to combat land degradation

"Nearly 30% of land is degraded and we are committed to address this challenge"

Money Grows on Trees–Don’t Uproot Them

PEMBA, Zambia, Jul 26 2019 (IPS) - Jennifer Handondo, a small scale farmer of Choma district in southern Zambia, plants food crops such as maize mostly for her family’s needs

[Interview] “Avoiding the risk of land degradation is fundamental to any response to climate change”

Barron Joseph Orr, lead scientist at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), is at the forefront of the UN body’s efforts to tackle land degradation.

Food From Thought

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 2 2019 (IPS) - As the weather continues to change and land becomes degraded, the socio-economic security implications are vast. In an effort to tackle these issues, climate-smart agriculture is quickly gaining traction around the world.

Looking to the Land in the Climate Change Race

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 26 2019 (IPS) - The international community still has a long way to go to chart a new, sustainable course for humanity. But the upcoming climate change meetings provide a renewed opportunity to tackle climate change head on.

Desertification ‘More Dangerous and More Insidious than Wars’

ANKARA, Jun 18 2019 (IPS) - Businesses are being encouraged to follow the lead of the youth to halt desertification, reduce degradation, improve agricultural sustainability and restore damaged lands.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2019

17 June 2019, Bonn, Germany

The International Soil Congress 2019 on "Successful Transformation toward Land Degradation Neutrality: Future Perspective"

17 - 19 June 2019, Ankara, Türkiye

There’s No Continent, No Country Not Impacted by Land Degradation

ANKARA, Jun 17 2019 (IPS) - The coming decades will be crucial in shaping and implementing a transformative land agenda, according to a scientist at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) framework for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

24 billion tons of fertile land lost every year, warns UN chief on World Day to Combat Desertification

“Desertification, land degradation and drought are major threats affecting millions of people worldwide,” said the UN chief, “particularly women and children.”

25 years of protecting our land, biodiversity and climate

Thank you for joining us for the World Day to Combat Desertification.

Human-made deserts are drying up our planet

A third of the earth’s landmass is covered by deserts. But the exploitation and deforestation of our land is destroying vast stretches of fertile soil, leading to further desertification.

The unexpected little underdogs of the big bad desert

Deserts are harsh ecosystems defined by high daytime temperatures that can dehydrate bodies quickly and low night temperatures that demand warm shelters. Despite the extremes, deserts are sanctuaries to a diversity of life forms. Animals living in these habitats have adopted mechanisms to cope w ...

Seventeenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

28 - 30 January 2019, Georgetown, Guyana

World Soil Day 2018

5 December 2018, Rome, Italy

African Ministers of Environment together with partner organizations committed to an ambitious action agenda taking a coherent approach to addressing the interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change.

African ministers adopt a Pan-African action agenda on ecosystem restoration: Agree to build momentum to implement commitments for biodiversity

15 November 2018 - African Ministers of Environment together with partner organizations committed to an ambitious action agenda taking a coherent approach to addressing the interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change.

Statement by Ms. Cristiana Pașca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of the African Ministerial Summit on Biodiversity: “Land and ecosystem degradation and restoration: Priorities for increased investments in biodiversity and resilience in Africa”; Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, 13 November 2018

Statement by Ms. Cristiana Pașca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of the African Ministerial Summit on Biodiversity: “Land and ecosystem degradation and restoration: Priorities for increased investments in biodiversity and resilience in Africa”; Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt, 13 November 2018

Message of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June 2018

Message of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, 17 June 2018

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2018: "Land has true value – Invest in it" (https://www2.unccd.int/actions/17-june-world-day-combat-desertification)

17 June 2018, Bonn, Germany

Today some four billion people live in urban areas. In these human-built spaces, people tend to think of streets and buildings.

Message of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, on the occasion of World Wetlands Day

World Soil Day 2017

5 December 2017, Rome, Italy

Soil is a symbol of fertility. It is the origin of life. It is the basis for food production.

Message of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, on the occasion of World Soil Day

The Executive Secretaries of the Biological Diversity, Climate Change, and Desertification Conventions are calling for the establishment of a Facility to secure finance for large projects that will help to address common issues.

UN Heads call for assistance to address linked climate change, biodiversity and desertification threats

13 November 2017 – The Executive Secretaries of the Biological Diversity, Climate Change, and Desertification Conventions are calling for the establishment of a Facility to secure finance for large projects that will help to address common issues.

Thirteen session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13), sixteenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC16), and thirteenth session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST13) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

4 - 15 September 2017, Ordos, China

World Day to Combat Desertification 2017 (WDCD)

17 June 2017, Bonn, Germany

Global Soil Week 2017: 'Catalysing SDG Implementation through a Soil and Land Review'

22 - 24 May 2017, Berlin, Germany

Message of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification 17 June 2016 - “Protect Earth. Restore Land. Engage People

World Soil Day 2015

5 December 2015, Rome, Italy

12th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Dersertification - (COP-12) (UNCCD)

12 - 23 October 2015, Ankara, Türkiye

5th Kubuqi International Desert Forum

28 - 29 July 2015, Ordos City, Mongolia

World Day to Combat Desertification

17 June 2015, Bonn, Germany

As we celebrate this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification, the message could not be clearer; in order to attain food security for all through sustainable food systems we must invest in our land. Soils represent at least a quarter of global biodiversity. It is the basis for the food people eat, the feed for their livestock, the fuel they use to cook with and the production of fibres for clothes and other uses.

Message of the CBD Executive Secretary, Braulio F. de Souza Dias, on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification, 17 June 2015

Statement by Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, on the occasion of Désertif’Actions 2015: Forum international « Désertification et société civile », Montpellier, France, 10-13 June 2015

Statement by Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, on the occasion of Désertif’Actions 2015: Forum international « Désertification et société civile », Montpellier, France, 10-13 June 2015

West Africa Regional Workshop of the UN-Water Initiative “Capacity Development to Support National Drought Management Policies”

4 - 7 May 2015, Accra, Ghana

Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

23 - 27 March 2015, Bonn, Germany

UNCCD 3rd International Scientific Conference: "Combatiing desertificiation, land degredation and drought for poverty reduction and sustaiblable development - the contribution of science, technology, traditional knowledge and practice"

9 - 12 March 2015, Cancun, Mexico