Addressing land degradation and desertification requires not only policies and technologies, but also the rights, knowledge, experience and participation of local communities, herders, farmers, women and young people who interact with the land every day. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) highlights that COP17 is bringing a wide range of stakeholders—including youth, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists and smallholder farmers—into the process of shaping solutions.

Today’s Green Zone programme addresses issues including land governance, rights and policy; civil society and inclusive governance; gender equality and women’s land rights; community-led land restoration; science, knowledge and capacity building; youth leadership; the contribution of women farmers to sustainable food systems; and traditional and local knowledge. The broader COP17 programme also aims to connect political decisions with practical solutions and strengthen multi-stakeholder participation on land restoration, drought resilience, water, rangelands and food systems.