Left: Yasmin Fuad and Batbaatar Bat
In a statement, Yasmin Fuad, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, emphasized the importance of land as the foundation of food security, water supply, and stability. "When land is depleted, it leads to instability, loss of livelihoods, and forced displacement of people," she noted. She added that the conference will contribute to the development of practical solutions for restoring degraded lands and improving the connection between land and water.
Land degradation affects about 40% of the world's land, significantly impacting food production and economic stability. The COP17 conference will provide an opportunity for countries and partners to intensify efforts to implement effective measures and attract investments to enhance drought resilience and land resource management.
Mongolia, with an area of 1.56 million square kilometers, is suffering from desertification: nearly 77% of its land has already undergone degradation. Hosting COP17 in Ulaanbaatar will draw international attention to land restoration and food security in arid regions.
The conference will take place as part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), initiated by Mongolia. This creates an opportunity to accelerate sustainable rangeland management and draw attention to the needs of pastoral communities that rely on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.
Rangelands cover more than half of the Earth's surface and provide livelihoods for approximately 500 million people; however, they remain among the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet.
During the two-week conference, participants will be able to engage in high-level dialogues, forums, and discussions regarding the integration of science and policy, innovative solutions, tools and technologies, as well as financing. COP17 will also serve as a platform for collective action on rangeland resilience, water resources, and food systems.
In preparation for COP17, Mongolia is implementing national initiatives aimed at land restoration and rural development, including the "Billion Trees" campaign launched by the president in 2021, which aims to plant one billion trees by 2030. Youth and the public are actively engaged through dialogues and forums, such as the National Forum "Youth for Land." The private sector is also being involved through the Mongolian Business Council to support the UNCCD initiative "Business for Land," aimed at sustainable land resource management.
