The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) commenced today in Ulaanbaatar with a welcoming ceremony for representatives of the “Silk Road Caravan.”

Connecting nine countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Türkiye, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Mongolia, the caravan travelled approximately 6,000 kilometres. Its mission is to share practical experience in land restoration, sustainable rangeland management and drought resilience, while bringing herders’ voices to global discussions.

After crossing Eurasia to reach Mongolia, the “Silk Road Caravan” has linked herders’ voices and the future of land restoration and rangelands with the global dialogue taking place in Ulaanbaatar, becoming a powerful symbol of the opening of COP17.

As part of COP17, heads of state and government, ministers, representatives of international organizations, researchers, business leaders, civil society groups and young people from around the world will gather in Mongolia for more than ten days under the theme, “Restoring Land Restoring Hope”.

The parties will discuss a broad range of interconnected issues, including land degradation, desertification and drought, water resources, food security, livelihoods and the sustainable development of cities and human settlements.

The UNCCD COP17 is being held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to 28, 2026.