WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT
Under the statement of the Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, David Cooper, on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought spotlights land stewardship. The theme: “United for land. Our Legacy. Our Future.” is a recognition that sustainable land management is critical to providing a healthy and sustainable future for all. This is a responsibility that transcends generations. Our ancestors cared for the land because they recognized its value.
Today, it is our duty to safeguard land for the next generations. Young people must be at the centre of our thinking, and at the centre of action. We must also recognize the pivotal role of indigenous peoples and local communities in land stewardship. Their land rights and meaningful participation in decision-making must be front and centre. All parts of society must be able to contribute to sustainable land stewardship. These are powerful notions that can be found at the core of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as The Biodiversity Plan. The Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted The Biodiversity Plan in December 2022 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. This is a plan for nature stewardship with a vision of living in harmony with nature. The Plan includes specific targets to manage, protect and restore land. This year, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of our sister convention, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Desertification, land degradation, and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with up to 40% of all land area worldwide already considered degraded. 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.
At the same time, growing 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. 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. This year, the theme of the Desertification and Drought Day “United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future” spotlights the future of land stewardship — our most precious resource to ensure the stability and prosperity of billions of people around the world.
Akjagul ANNAYEVA,
an assistant of the Institute of International Relations of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.