Since 1995, June 17th has been observed as the "World Day to Combat Desertification - 2017"  The main objective of commemorating WDCD has been to promote public awareness about international efforts to combat desertification and the effects of drought collectively.

This report provides commemoration of WDCD 2017 across india on awraness, workshops, nature camps, schemes and events launched.

This report highlights the activities pertaining to issues related to desertification, land degradation and drought, 

The UNCCD is the custodian agency leading an Inter-Agency Advisory Group on 15.3.1 composed of our key partner FAO as well as the CBD, UNFCCC, UNEP and UNSD to further refine the methodology and data tools/options for this indicator.

Presentation by Sasha Alexander from the UNCCD about SDG Indicator 15.3.1 about the proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.

Framework and Guiding Principles for a Land Degradation Indicator to monitor and report on progress towards target 15.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the strategic objectives of the Rio Conventions and other relevant targets and commitments

Soils around the world are degrading rapidly, reducing ecosystem diversity and some important functions, threatening food and other human securities, and increasing vulnerability to climate change. This is a vicious cycle created by and leading to further unsustainable land-use practices. Integrated (‘nexus’) soil, land, water and ecosystem management can help to turn it into a virtuous cycle.

ELD is a joint initiative of Germany, the European Commission and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). ELD offers a strong platform for raising public awareness of land degradation and advocating sustainable land-use strategies.

Not only has soil degradation in Niger been halted thanks to an integrated approach combining water harvesting technologies, the application of organic residues and planting of fruit trees and vegetables. The strategy has also enabled increases in farmers’ income as well as an active involvement of the country’s largely marginalised women in food production through their gaining access to land.

Rangelands cover 30 per cent of the global land surface. They support a considerable share of the global ruminant value chains, are habitat for a high plant and animal diversity and have various ecological, economic and social functions. But rangelands are currently under pressure from global change processes. A focus on humananimal- environment interactions is necessary to avoid resource overexploitation and degradation.

Since 2006, a European Union-wide strategy on soil conservation has been in existence that is to address the complex roles that soil plays as a natural resource. However, a legally binding agreement has so far met with opposition by a blocking minority of EU Member States. Does the EU nevertheless offer prospects for soil conservation?

With more than 900 million people world-wide affected by chronic hunger, international action on soil conservation is urgently required. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) enjoys substantial support, and the author of this article demonstrates that it could play a key role as a global policy and monitoring framework in addressing land and soil degradation.

In order to adequately address the important role of soils and land for sustainable development, a holistic approach is needed. This article discusses why biophysical but also socio-economic aspects have to be considered – using the example of Guatemala, one of the first countries to support the proposal to create the Sustainable Development Goals.

Tropical forage grasses and legumes as key components of sustainable crop-livestock systems in Latin America and the Caribbean have major implications for improving food security, alleviating poverty, restoring degraded lands and mitigating climate change. Climate-smart tropical forage crops can improve the livestock productivity of smallholder farming systems and break the cycle of poverty and resource degradation.