Observed annually on the 17th of June, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a global event aimed at promoting public awareness about international efforts to battle desertification. This unique day serves as a reminder that neutrality in land degradation is achievable through community involvement, collaborative problem-solving, and cooperation across all levels.
For the first time, India will be hosting the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019. The theme for this year’s event is “Let’s Grow the Future Together.”
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement linking sustainable land management to environmental and developmental concerns. This Convention mainly focuses on arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, known as drylands. These regions house some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and populations.
UNCCD’s 2018-2030 Strategic Framework
The UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework represents the most comprehensive global commitment to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). It aims to restore productivity to large tracts of degraded land, improve livelihoods for over 1.3 billion people, and reduce drought impacts on vulnerable populations. The Convention’s 197 parties focus on improving living conditions in drylands, maintaining and restoring land and soil productivity, and mitigating drought effects.
The UNCCD encourages local participation in combating land degradation and desertification. It facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly in knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.
UNCCD Collaboration with Rio Conventions
The UNCCD works closely with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This collaboration promotes an integrated approach to managing natural resources due to the interconnected dynamics of land, climate, and biodiversity.
The Conference of the Parties (COP)
Established by the Convention as its ultimate decision-making entity, COP includes ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations like the European Union. It reviews reports from Parties on their adherence to commitments and makes recommendations based on these reports.
Desertification and Land Drought: UNCCD Estimates
| Year | Population Experiencing Water Scarcity | Population Under Water-stressed Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.8 billion | 2/3rd of world population |
Land & Human Security
By 2045, desertification may displace around 135 million people. Achieving land degradation neutrality—by rehabilitating already degraded land, scaling up sustainable land management, and accelerating restoration initiatives—is a pathway to greater resilience and security for all.
Land & Climate
Restoring soils of degraded ecosystems can potentially store up to three billion tons of carbon annually. The land use sector represents nearly 25% of total global emissions. Its rehabilitation and sustainable management are crucial to combating climate change.
UNCCD and Sustainable Development Goal 15
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Under SDG 15, UNCCD is committed to “protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change.”
India & UNCCD Partnership
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in India, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has launched a project on forest landscape restoration and Bonn Challenge in India.
Desertification
Desertification refers to land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, primarily due to human activities and climatic variations. It doesn’t necessarily mean the expansion of existing deserts.
The Bonn Challenge
A global initiative aiming to restore 150 million hectares of deforested and degraded land by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030. At the COP 2015 in Paris, India pledged to bring into restoration 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2020, an additional 8 million hectares by 2030. This is one of the largest pledges made in Asia.
