The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) concluded with a powerful call from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for global action to restore agricultural land. Over the course of the two-week event, FAO emphasized that restoring degraded agricultural lands is critical to transforming agrifood systems and ensuring food security and sustainability for future generations.
The conference focused on key challenges such as land degradation, drought, and desertification, urging collective global action to build resilience against these pressing issues. FAO highlighted the importance of land restoration not only for food security but also for enhancing biodiversity, supporting carbon sequestration, and providing other essential ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being and livelihoods.
Under the leadership of Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa (NENA), the FAO delegation at COP16 stressed the need to prioritize agricultural land restoration in environmental agreements and national strategies. FAO called for integrated solutions that combine policy, innovation, and technology to effectively prevent and combat land degradation.
FAO’s participation in the event included several key sessions, initiatives, and publications. One notable session, “Wrapping up a COP year: The role of agrifood systems across the three Rio Conventions,” showcased how agrifood systems can contribute to addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation in an integrated and coordinated manner. The discussions focused on making agrifood systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable by restoring degraded agricultural lands. The goal is to achieve co-benefits such as food security, land degradation neutrality, carbon storage, water retention, and enhanced biodiversity.
In line with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, FAO hosted a high-level breakfast event that brought together ministers, investors, and experts to endorse the NENA Regional Investment Framework for Ecosystem Restoration and Development Solutions. This initiative, developed by FAO in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNCCD, and the League of Arab States, aims to deliver transformative solutions by promoting ‘champion countries’ that lead scalable restoration projects.
FAO also participated in a high-level panel discussion on advancing the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), reiterating its commitment to supporting countries in implementing VACS to drive innovation, resilience, and sustainability in agrifood systems. During this session, FAO launched the Suitability Crop Platform, a unique framework that provides essential soil data and crop suitability insights, helping policymakers make informed decisions for sustainable agricultural planning.
In partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), FAO launched the Food Systems Integrated Program (FSIP), a $282 million initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This program aims to transform global agrifood systems to be sustainable, nature-positive, resilient, inclusive, and pollution-free. The program was officially announced on Agrifood System Day at COP16.
Recognizing the critical role of youth in addressing climate change, land degradation, and water scarcity, FAO organized the “NENA Youth Talk” at COP16. This event featured HRH Princess Basma Bint Ali of Jordan, FAO NENA Goodwill Ambassador, and other key figures, encouraging youth leaders to take action on these pressing issues.
FAO also highlighted the importance of sustainable soil management during World Soil Day (WSD) celebrations at COP16. The theme for this year’s WSD was “Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage,” underscoring the need for accurate soil data to support informed decision-making on sustainable soil management practices. The official FAO WSD celebration in Pak Chong, Thailand, was connected to the COP16 event in Riyadh via video link, where the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Soil Management in the NENA region was launched.
On the sidelines of COP16, FAO launched the Global Status of Salt-Affected Soils report, which was presented during the International Soil and Water Forum 2024 in Bangkok. This report outlines an action plan for halting and reversing soil degradation and water scarcity. Additionally, FAO released two progress reports detailing trends in water-use efficiency and pressures on renewable freshwater resources, offering key insights for accelerating efforts towards sustainable water management.
FAO’s efforts in land and water management are central to its mission of promoting sustainable agricultural practices and addressing the risks of resource degradation. Through innovative programs and strategic partnerships, FAO is working to enhance scientific understanding of the complex relationships between land and water resources.
FAO welcomed the decisions made at COP16 to avoid, reduce, and reverse land and soil degradation of agricultural lands. FAO is committed to supporting the implementation of these decisions, contributing to global food security and nutrition, and advancing the objectives of all three Rio Conventions.
