World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2026; June 17th.

FORUM: “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.” World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2026. Rangelands cover more than half of the world’s land surface yet remain among the most undervalued ecosystems. They face increasing pressures from climate change, land degradation and competing land uses. Up to half of all rangelands are already degraded or at risk, jeopardizing food and water security, climate resilience and rural livelihoods. Coinciding with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, the 2026 global observance will draw attention to the need to recognize and value rangelands for the critical functions they provide, respect the traditional stewards who have cared for them for generations and restore degraded landscapes to secure livelihoods and ecosystem services.

 Through Desertification and Drought Day 2026, countries and communities are invited to:

Recognize rangelands’ economic contribution to national and regional economies, their role in sustaining biodiversity and wildlife and the multiple benefits they provide, from regulating water cycles to storing carbon

Respect pastoralists, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, whose mobility, customary governance systems and ecological knowledge are essential to maintaining the health and productivity of these landscapes

Restore rangelands by investing in sustainable land and water management, strengthening governance, improving drought preparedness and supporting community-led restoration efforts

Marked every year on June 17th, the Desertification and Drought Day is the United Nations’ global moment to raise awareness of land degradation and drought and to mobilize action to protect and restore healthy land. Desertification and Drought Day 2026 in Kenya will be the first time in nearly a decade that the African continent hosts the global observance.

On Desertification and Drought Day, we call on the world to recognize and protect rangelands, the vast ecosystems covering half the Earth's land surface and sustaining over two billion people. Up to 50 per cent of the world's rangelands are now degraded or at risk, threatening food systems, livelihoods, biodiversity, and climate stability. This year also marks the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) — a global opportunity to support the pastoralists and Indigenous Peoples whose traditional knowledge is essential to safeguarding these landscapes. The call for investment in restoration and water security, sustainable employment for rural communities, and international cooperation across borders. To protect our future, we must protect the land. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #RestoringLand, #RestoringHope, #IYRP2026, #UNCCDCOP17.

EVENTS: On June 17th, Kenya hosts the global observance of Desertification and Drought Day 2026 in partnership with UNCCD under the theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.” The global observance will highlight the central role of the world’s rangelands in climate resilience, food and water security, biodiversity conservation and the cultural identity of pastoralist and Indigenous communities. Kenya’s leadership reflects its ongoing efforts to address land degradation, strengthen drought resilience and support communities living in dryland and rangeland areas. The Registration for the Global Observance, the Agenda Programme for June 17 and the Information note for participants.

Statement of the United Nations, Secretary-General's for Desertification and Drought Day 2026.

Rangelands are vast open spaces found in every climate on every continent. They cover half the hear land surface supplying vital food and fibers and sustaining over two billion people. They also play a crucial role as wildlife habitats and carbon sinks. Yet up to 50% of the world's rangelands are now degraded or at risk. These conditions threaten the global food system, harm local livelihoods, reduce biodiversity, and increase greenhouse gas emissions.

On this world day of combat desertification and drought, we are issuing an urgent call to recognize and respect the world's rangelands.

This means investing in restoration, especially water security, empowering rural communities through sustainable employment and forging solutions across borders through international cooperation.

This year also marks the international year of rangelands and pastoralists. A chance to support the pastoralists and indigenous peoples whose traditional knowledge can help safeguard those ecosystems.

To protect our future, we must protect the land. Together, let us ensure that French lands everywhere thrive for generations to come.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

The UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad said: “We thank the Government of Kenya for hosting Desertification and Drought Day 2026 and for shining a spotlight on the world’s rangelands. These landscapes are vital for food, water, biodiversity and climate resilience. Kenya’s leadership comes at a crucial moment, as rangelands face increasing pressure worldwide. By recognising their value, respecting their traditional stewards and restoring rangelands back to health, we can strengthen the livelihoods of two billion people.”

COMMUNICATION MATERIALS: Get the poster!

Other Campaign materials.

International Day of Argania 2026; May 10th.

FORUM: "Roots of Tradition; Seeds of Tomorrow'' International Day of Argania 2026. Its protection is fundamental, given the importance of its environmental and socioeconomic role. In recent decades there has been a growing awareness of its value and an increase in initiatives to protect it. The Argania (Argania spinosa) is a woody species endemic to Morocco, where it is concentrated in the Souss, in the South, and Algeria, where it is present in the Tindouf region. It belongs to the sapotaceae family, and has leathery leaves, small yellow flowers and a yellow-greenish fruit that looks like olives. It is also a unique tree due to its high capacity of adaption to the natural environment and its ability to develop its own ecosystem. The argan tree is the ideal species to fight against erosion and desertification, as argan tree masses constitute a green belt against the advance of the desert. These features arose curiosity on the Argania many centuries ago. One of the first writings that mention this trees is the Traité des simples (13th century), written by the Andalusian physician and botanist Ibn al-Baitar. It had previously been mentioned by the Andalusian botanist and historian El Bakri in the 11th century and was later mentioned by the famous Andalusian explorer Leon the African (15th-16th century), who detailed the uses of argan oil for food and illumination. The Argania has played an important role in the traditional culture of the local population, especially among the Imazighen tribes. One of its first uses lies in the hardness of its wood, which was traditionally used as a construction material, due to its good insulating properties, and as fuel. However, it is best known for its oil, produced from its fruits, which are particularly slow to ripen and contain between one and three small kernels rich in oil. In some places, argan oil replaces olive oil, making it an essential ingredient in regional cuisine, as well as being used as a condiment for many dishes. In the Souss region, argan oil, honey and a glass of tea is served as a symbol of hospitality towards guests. This oil is also used for the preparation of the popular and delicious amlou, a paste made with argan oil, roasted and crushed almonds and honey. Amlou is a culinary specialty of the Souss region, which has become popular throughout Morocco and even beyond its borders. Argan oil is also known for its many benefits and its high content of vitamin A and E, as well as its essential fatty acids. For this reason, it is regularly used to treat skin diseases, as well as being a highly appreciated ingredient in cosmetics by both artisanal and major international brands. For centuries, the argan tree has been the main means of subsistence for many families in rural areas, through the sale of its fruits or its oil, whose production is based on traditional knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Today, most of the quality oil is still produced in women-organized cooperatives, such as the Amal Cooperative in the Moroccan village of Tamanar or the Tifaout Women’s Agricultural Cooperative in the Souss-Massa-Draa region. It is estimated that more than 2,000 people work in Moroccan argan oil cooperatives. The importance of this tree is such that its disappearance would affect the entire ecosystem: soil, water reserves, fauna, and flora. This know-how and the practices linked to argan oil were included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014, following a request from the Moroccan government. Since April 2009, the production of oil is also a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). Argan oil was the first African product to benefit from this protection. These recognitions underline this tree’s importance and the practices that surround it. The benefits of the argan tree transcend these uses, and we all profit from its impact directly or indirectly. In fact, it is the ideal species to fight against erosion and desertification, as argan tree masses constitute a green belt against the advance of the desert. For instance, the UNESCO’s decision to declare “la Arganeraie” a Biosphere Reserve in 1988. This reserve in the southwest of Morocco, formed by the Souss Massa National Park, has since protected an Argan forest of 25,687 km2. Likewise, this tree, a symbol of life in Morocco, was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco in 2014, as a living example of the symbiosis between humans and nature. It is crucial to provide protection of this invaluable species for effective and durable results .

EVENTS: On May10th, a virtual event will be held to mark the International Day of Argania 2026. to Raise-awareness and increased protection of the Argan trees. Register to participate!

World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2024; June 17th.

FORUM : “United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future.” International Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2024. This year, the theme will spotlight the future of land stewardship — our most precious resource to ensure the stability and prosperity of billions of people around the world. Healthy land not only provides us with almost 95% of our food but so much more: it clothes and shelters us, provides jobs and livelihoods, and protects us from the worsening droughts, floods and wildfires.Yet, every second, an equivalent of four football fields of healthy land becomes degraded, adding up to a total of 100 million hectares each year. Growing word populations, coupled with unsustainable production and consumption patterns, fuel demand for natural resources, putting excessive pressure on land to the point of degradation. Desertification and drought are driving forced migration, putting tens of millions of people each year at risk of displacement. Of the world’s 8 billion inhabitants, over one billion of young people under the age of 25 years live in developing countries, particularly in regions directly dependent on land and natural resources for sustenance. Creating job prospects for rural populations is a viable solution that gives young people access to eco-entrepreneurship opportunities and at the same time to scale up best practices. Each USD invested in land restoration can yield up to 30 USD in return. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #DesertificationAndDrought, #Drought, #ourlegacyourfuture, #United4land, #17june, #DesertificationDay.

EVENTS : On June 17th, from 10:00 – 19:00 EDT. A High-level event to mark the International Day to combat Desertification and Drought Day 2024 will be held at UNHQ in New York. The several events organized will focus on the transformative power of healthy land for addressing today’s most pressing and interconnected challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food and water security – a blueprint for providing future generations with a healthy planet. The Day will amplify a renewed global commitment to sustainable land management and drought resilience. The panel discussions are organized jointly by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UN Women, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The high-level event will be opened by the President of the 78th General Assembly with the participation by leaders representing governments, international organizations, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, women and youth. It will include interactive dialogues and statements from the floor moderated by UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw.

In Bonn, Germany, The global observance event at the Bundeskunsthalle, which will mark the 30th anniversary of UNCCD, will bring together world leaders, youth and prominent personalities from academia, civil society, sports and entertainment to showcase a strong ambition to be united for land, ahead of the UNCCD COP16, the largest-ever United Nations conference on land and drought in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2024. The Government of Germany, the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the City of Bonn will organize a series of public-facing events. A photo exhibition, educational programmes and musical performances, together with a social media campaign launched ahead of the Day, will serve to ensure the global reach of this years' theme. The global observance event on June 17th will be hosted by Germany and will be accessible to online audiences via a livestream.

From 2-13 December 2024 in Riyadh, will be held the UNCCD 16th session of the Conference of the Parties; COP16 will be a landmark event for accelerating action on land and drought resilience and a gamechanger for the green transition in Saudi Arabia, the region and beyond. Learn more about the COP16 Sessions and the side- events. Register to participate!

Worldwide celebrations: View the calendar of upcoming meetings and Explore the map of events!

STATEMENTS

Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General on World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2024; June 17th.

Statement by the UNCDD Executive-Secretary on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2024; June 17th.

Statement by the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2024; June 17th.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2023; June 17th.

 FORUM : “HER LAND. HER RIGHTS.” International Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2023. The global focus is on women’s land rights— essential for achieving the interconnected global goals on gender equality and land degradation neutrality by 2030 and contributing to the advancement of several other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Women hold a vital stake in the health of the land, yet they often don’t have control over it. In all parts of the world, women face significant barriers in securing land rights, limiting their ability to thrive and prosper. And when land becomes degraded and water is scarce, women are often the worst affected. Investing in women’s equal access to land and associated assets is a direct investment in their future and the future of humanity.  It’s time for women and girls to be at the forefront of global land restoration and drought resilience efforts. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Herland, #United4land, #17june, #DesertificationDay.

EVENTS : The High-level event entitled “Her Land. Her Rights: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals.” to mark the International Day to combat Desertification and Drought Day 2023 will be held at UNHQ in New York on June 16th from 10:00 – 19:00 EDT; The high-level event will focus on policies and actions needed to advance women’s land rights and promote stronger female leadership and decision-making power in sustainable land management. The event will be opened by Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 78th General Assembly, and will include participation by leaders representing governments, international organizations, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, women and youth. It will include interactive dialogues and statements from the floor moderated by UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw and also feature musical performances by UNCCD Goodwill Ambassadors. The event is organized jointly by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UN Women, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Offce of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the high-level event will bring together leaders and gender equality champions to discuss policies and actions needed to advance women’s land rights and promote stronger female leadership and decision-making power in sustainable land management.

LIVE: High-level event entitled “Her Land. Her Rights: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals” to mark the 2023 World Day to combat Desertification and Drought.

Statement by the United Nations Secretary-General on World Day to combat Desertification and Drought 2023; June 17th.

Excellencies, friends.

We depend on land for our survival. Yet we treat it like dirt.

Unsustainable farming is eroding soil 100 times faster than natural process can restore them.

And up to 40% of our planet’s land is now degraded:

Imperiling food production;

Threatening biodiversity;

And compounding the climate crisis.

This hits women and girls the hardest.

They suffer disproportionately from the lack of food, water scarcity, and forced migration that result from our mistreatment of land.

Yet they have the least control.

In many countries laws and practices block women and girls from owning land.

But where they do, they restore and protect it: increasing productivity; building resilience to drought and investing in health, education and nutrition.

Equal land rights both protect land and advance gender equality.

That is why this Desertification and Drought Day puts the focus on “her land, her rights”.

I urge all governments to eliminate legal barriers to women owning land, and to involve them in policymaking.

Support women and girls to play their part in protecting our most precious resource.

And together, let’s stop land degradation by 2030.

Thank you.

U.N. Secretary-General.

Remarks by the President of the 77th session of the General Assembly at the High-level event in observance of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2023.

Madam Secretary-General,

Mr. Executive Secretary,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to participate in today’s High-Level Event.

We derive much of our identity, culture, and traditions from our connections to land.

From my mother’s side, my ancestors have been farmers for centuries. That means they knew the values land offered, they respected and used the forces of nature. I learned a lot from them.

Land degradation is a threat not only to our food security, livelihoods, ecosystems, and biodiversity – but to our existence as a whole.

Land degradation wipes out the wisdom that has lived beneath us for millennia, and with it – our hope for the future.

Indeed, as aptly called by the South African writer Nadine Gordimer, the desert is “a place without expectation”.

Twenty-nine years ago, this body proclaimed 17 Juneas the Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

Ever since, the GA has been tackling these challenges through the deeply intertwined issues of resilience and land restoration.

It has been a long struggle.

And we have all understood that, to quote James Lovelock, “Sadly, it’s much easier to create a desert than a forest”.

Today we cast our focus on two topics that matter to us all: land, and women’s equal rights to own, manage or inherit it.

Throughout my Presidency, I have strongly advocated for better integration of science and policy.

This is especially important for planning how to tackle the climate shocks that erode our global landscape.

So, what does science say about the intersection of land rights, gender empowerment and justice?

The data could not be clearer.

When women farmers have access to own land, they grow more and so do their children and nations.

The UN Food and Agricultural Organization finds that with women’s equal access to resources, including land, agricultural yields could rise by almost a third, resulting in potentially 150 million fewer hungry people in the world.

Empirical research proves that strengthening women’s land and property rights increases food security and reduces malnourishment.

In addition, when we include women equally in land management – and tap their traditional knowledge to promote sustainable land use – we not only reverse desertification, but also promote land restoration practices.

Together, these positive shifts in women’s empowerment have a ripple effect on income, and children’s welfare.

So, we have the evidence to support why it is advantageous to increase women’s land tenure.

What we are lacking are the policy decisions and investments that should not only target women’s individual rights, but also recognize their role in collectively managing land.

In this field, too, we should do our best to remove the barriers to women’s participation in decision-making.

The 2030 Agenda recognizes that gender-equal access to land rights is integral to the achievement of all our global goals of sustainable development.

All 17 goals – from achieving gender equality, to ending poverty and hunger, and to sustaining life on land.

This understanding of the integrated nature of both crises and solutions must have pride of place at the SDG Summit in September.

As we mark this Desertification and Drought Day, I urge you to recognize women’s contributions to the sustainable management of land and the broader achievement of our 2030 Agenda.

And I call upon you to promote laws and policies that give us a fighting chance at leaving no one behind.

We cannot let this foundational promise dry out.

Thank you.

U.N. General Assembly President.

Statement by David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2023; June 17th.

KEY MESSAGES

• Desertification, land degradation and drought disproportionately impact women and girls, as they often do not have access to and control of land resources. They are most affected by reduced agricultural yields and increased water scarcity.
• In the vast majority of countries, women have unequal and limited access and control to land. In many regions, they remain subject to discriminatory laws and practices that impede their right to inherit, as well as their access to services and resources.
• When women are empowered, entire families and communities benefit. In addition to being on the frontlines of land degradation and climate change impacts, women can also be at the forefront of global efforts to restore land back to health and boost drought resilience. Gender-responsive land restoration is a pathway to reduce poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
• Investing in women’s equal access to land and associated assets is a direct investment in their future and the future of humanity. Securing women's land rights can help advance global gender equality and land restoration goals, and contribute to the achievement of broader Sustainable Development Goals.

Desertification and Drought Day 2023 global observance
When: Friday, 16 June 2023
Where: New York


The Desertification and Drought Day 2023 global observance event, titled “Her Land. Her Rights: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals” will take place at the United Nations Headquarters’ General Assembly Hall on Friday, 16 June 2023. Organized jointly by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), UN Women, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Offce of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United Nations Development Programme, the high-level event will bring together leaders and gender equality champions to discuss policies and actions needed to advance women’s land rights and promote stronger female leadership and decision-making power in sustainable land management. Where and when General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York 

 Friday, 16 June 2023 10:00 hrs –13:00 hrs (EDT) / 14:00 hrs- 17:00 hrs (GMT/UTC) / 15:00 hrs– 18:00 hrs BST/ 16:00 hrs – 19:00 hrs (CEST)

Follow the event live: UNWebTV: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1i/k1ix8i8j1z 

YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/J2EtR8hyy9g 

Twitter Broadcast: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1jMJgLQYqpYxL 

Tweet: https://twitter.com/UNWebTV/status/1666114674176188418 #HerLand Event Programme 

UPCOMING EVENTS

19 JUNE 2023 - YOUTH Painting a beautiful world: a children's art story

When: Monday, 19 June 2023


The UNCCD/CDIO, through this project, "Painting a beautiful World: A children's art story", provides an opportunity for children around the world to paint the reality of the landscapes they presently occupy, or the one they would like to occupy.



09 OCTOBER 2023 - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention CRIC21
When: 09 - 13 October 2023


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), will be held from 9 to 13 October 2023 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.



02-13 DECEMBER 2024 - UNCCD Conference of Parties 16th session | COP16

When: 02 - 13 December 2024
Where: Riyadh

More details of the event to follow in due course.

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS:

Women, Girls and Land campaign
Campaign materials

UN Days, Weeks and Years > International Decades

As well as the annual celebration of certain UN-designated days and weeks, we find ourselves in the midst of celebrating several on-going internationally-declared decades (proclaimed by the UN General Assembly). Often, an international decade is launched by either an international year or on an international day.

1993-2002	Second Industrial Development Decade for Africa
1993-2002	Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons
1993-2003	Third International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination
1994-2003	International Decade for the World's Indigenous People (following 1993 International Year for World's Indigenous People)
1995-2004	United Nations Decade for Human Rights Education
1997-2006	United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (following 1996 International Year for the Eradication of Poverty)
2001-2010	International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (following 2000 International Year for the Culture of Peace)
2001-2010	Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
2001-2010	Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa
2003-2012	United Nations Literacy Decade: Literacy for All (from 8 September 2003 - International Literacy Day)
2005-2014	Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People
2005-2014	United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
2005-2015	International Decade for Action, “Water for Life” (from 22 March 2005 - World Water Day)
2006-2015	Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of the Affected Regions (relating to the Chernobyl disaster)
2008-2017	Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty
2010-2019	United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification
2011-2020	United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety

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For further information, we suggest you visit the UN's Conferences and Events site. Specifically you should check out "Conferences and Observances" in the "Background Information" section. (As the UN changes the URL of this page at least once a year we choose not to give you a direct link that may soon become dated.)

COP17/CMP7 : United Nations Climate Conference 2011

 The African Pavillon at COP17

Documents

• Africa pavilion events programme (2.2 MB)
• Africa pavilion layout (0.9 MB)
• Africa pavilion location map (1.0 MB)
• Mobilising and applying resources for adaptation to climate change-The role of the African Water Facility (302 KB)
• Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Waste Water Treatment Plant Egypt-Gabal el Asfar Wastewater Treatment Plant Project Stage II Phase II (404 KB)

Multimedia :

AfDB at COP17

 Participants Reactions  

Africa Pavilion in their own words	Africa Pavilion in their own words
Interview with Abdoulaye Dagamaissa, AfDB forestry expert speaking on the AfDB’s forestry projects. He covers the issues of forest preservation, gender and youth	Interview with Gaston Grenier, Facilitator for the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. He spoke on the Harmonization of the contribution of CBFF partners
Interview of Lars Jorgensen, Senior Project Manager at Phoenix Design Aid. The contractor of the African Pavilion talks about the design and inspiration for the forest exhibition and the experience for the visitors

 AfDB Response to Climate Change

Inga Hydroelectric Development, DRC	AfDB – Protecting the Niger River
Ain Beni Mathar Thermo-Soar Power Station, Morocco	Madagascar : Le projet hydroélectrique Sahanivotry
Biochar Forest Project, DRC	Africa and Climate Change
Green Economy and Structural Transformation	Africa Green Fund
Uganda - Bujagali Hydropower Project