UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio recommended the drafting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNHCR). The only convention proposed under Agenda 21 adopted by the Conference, the UNHCR was adopted at its meeting in Paris on 17 June 1994 and entered into force in December 1996. The Convention is built on the principles of participation, cooperation and localization, which form the backbone of good governance. The UNHCR has already reached a global wide scope with 180 member countries.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international treaty established in 1994 to address the issues of desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD). It aims to promote sustainable land management practices, restore degraded lands, and combat the adverse effects of desertification and drought, particularly in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.

The UNCCD is one of the three "Rio Conventions" adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, alongside the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It is the sole legally binding international agreement that links environmental and developmental issues to the sustainable management of land.

Key Objectives of the UNCCD

1. Combat Desertification: Prevent and reverse the process of land degradation in areas affected by desertification.
2. Mitigate Drought Impacts: Develop strategies to minimize the impacts of drought on people and ecosystems.
3. Promote Sustainable Land Management (SLM): Encourage practices that maintain or enhance land productivity while preserving natural ecosystems.
4. Improve Livelihoods: Reduce poverty and enhance the resilience of communities living in affected areas.
5. Restore Ecosystems: Rehabilitate degraded lands to improve biodiversity, soil fertility, and water availability.

Key Principles

1. Participation: Engage local communities, governments, and international organizations in decision-making processes.
2. Global Responsibility: Recognize desertification and land degradation as global challenges that require international cooperation.
3. Science-Based Approaches: Use scientific research and data to inform policies and practices.
4. Integrated Solutions: Address the interconnections between land degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss.

Main Focus Areas

1. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN):

   • A key initiative of the UNCCD, LDN aims to achieve a balance between land degradation and restoration by 2030.
   • This involves preventing land degradation, rehabilitating degraded areas, and ensuring sustainable land use practices.

2. Drought Management:Developing early warning systems and drought-resilient agricultural practices to minimize the impacts of drought.

3. Climate Change:Addressing the role of land degradation in exacerbating climate change and promoting land restoration as a climate solution.

4. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):The UNCCD contributes directly to SDG 15 (Life on Land), particularly target 15.3, which focuses on achieving LDN.

UNCCD Implementation

1. National Action Plans (NAPs):Member countries are required to develop and implement NAPs to address desertification and land degradation at the national level.

2. Partnerships and Cooperation:The UNCCD fosters collaboration between governments, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector.

3. Capacity Building:Training programs, workshops, and knowledge-sharing platforms are organized to build local capacity for sustainable land management.

4. Financing Mechanisms:The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other funding sources support projects and initiatives aligned with the UNCCD goals.

Challenges Addressed by the UNCCD

1. Food Security: Land degradation reduces agricultural productivity, leading to hunger and malnutrition.
2. Water Scarcity: Desertification exacerbates water shortages by reducing soil moisture and freshwater availability.
3. Biodiversity Loss: Degraded lands often lose their ability to support diverse ecosystems.
4. Forced Migration: Desertification and drought can force people to leave their homes in search of better living conditions.
5. Economic Losses: Unsustainable land use practices can lead to significant economic damage, especially in rural areas.

UNCCD Milestones

• 1994: The UNCCD is adopted.
• 1996: The convention comes into force.
• 2007: Launch of the 10-Year Strategy (2008–2018) to enhance implementation efforts.
• 2015: Introduction of the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) concept, aligned with the SDGs.
• 2018: Adoption of the UNCCD 2018–2030 Strategic Framework to guide actions toward sustainable land management.

Impact of the UNCCD

• Global Action: Over 190 countries are parties to the convention, actively working to combat desertification.
• Restoration Efforts: Initiatives like the Great Green Wall in Africa aim to restore vast areas of degraded land and create economic opportunities.
• Awareness and Advocacy: The UNCCD has raised global awareness about the importance of sustainable land management.

The Way Forward

To address the growing challenges of desertification and land degradation, the UNCCD emphasizes:

1. Strengthening partnerships among stakeholders.
2. Leveraging innovative technologies and traditional knowledge.
3. Integrating land restoration into climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
4. Scaling up financing for land restoration projects.