The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) concluded in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with the announcement of US$ 1.3 billion in pledges related to land restoration, drought resilience, and rural development.
According to the summary released at the end of the meeting, US$ 644.5 million corresponds to newly identified resources and US$ 216.4 million is already confirmed and moving toward implementation. The figures were presented in a context of a large gap between available funding and what is needed to restore degraded soils on a global scale.
Restoring land and protecting communities
The conference brought together representatives from the 197 country parties to the convention, alongside researchers, Indigenous peoples, youth, farmers, pastoral communities, businesses, and civil society organizations. The theme “Restoring land. Restoring hope” sought to connect environmental recovery, food security, economic stability, and the prevention of displacement.
Soil degradation reduces agricultural productivity, increases vulnerability to droughts and dust storms, and puts pressure on communities that depend directly on the land. Therefore, the projects presented include regenerative agriculture, sustainable pasture management, ecosystem recovery, and drought early-warning systems.
Mongolia’s role
The host country highlighted its national “One Billion Trees” campaign, launched in 2021 with a target for 2030, and initiatives linking restoration to income and opportunities in rural areas. Mongolia also advocated regional cooperation to address desertification and climate change.
The challenge after the announcements
Financial commitments do not automatically equate to disbursements. The next step will be turning announcements into verifiable projects, with timelines, environmental indicators, and community participation. Transparency regarding new resources and those already accounted for will be decisive in measuring the true outcome of the conference.
