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On Desertification Day: 1st “land-friendly” school in Bonn..over 120,000 seedlings planted in Kenya
On Desertification and Drought Day 2024, Bonn’s first “land-friendly” school opened and over 120.000 seedlings are planted in Kenya.
Bonn Mayor Katja Dörner, in cooperation with the United Nations convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), inaugurated the city’s first “land-friendly” school. This unique program gives students the opportunity to learn about organic farming through both educational and practical lessons on the school’s farmland.
Kenya planted over 120,000 seedlings as part of a tree planting and awareness campaign.
Countries around the world also organized Desertification and Drought Day events.
Mobilizing all generations in support of sustainable land stewardship is the focus of Desertification and Drought Day 2024, celebrated on 17 June, marking a pivotal moment in the global effort to combat land degradation and drought.
Hosted by the Federal Republic of Germany through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Bonn, the event brought together changemakers from around the world under the theme “United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future”.
The event culminated in a series of announcements and commitments to promote sustainable land management. A new program to train youth negotiators to become future decision-makers on land and drought issues was launched. In its first year, youth negotiators from more than 30 countries will receive training ahead of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UNCCD, to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024.
Land degradation affects up to 40% of the world’s land and nearly half the world’s population, with the highest costs borne by those who can least afford it: indigenous communities, rural households, smallholder farmers, and especially youth and women.
More than a billion young people who live in developing countries depend on land and natural resources. Engaging youth in land restoration can create the estimated 600 million jobs needed in the next 15 years, contributing to both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Italy issued a commemorative stamp, and the Belgian EU Presidency hosted a documentary screening and panel discussion on land restoration in Burkina Faso.
Nigeria hosted a webinar on sustainable practices, while Tunisia held an online event on land degradation neutrality.
India discussed sustainable land management in Chennai; Myanmar launched an online campaign and held a high-level event in Naypyidaw; and the Philippines organized tree planting activities and stakeholder workshops.
Sri Lanka held an awareness-raising campaign, Guatemala linked sustainable development and land management, and Moldova held an interregional meeting on drought and land degradation neutrality.
Ten Land Heroes were announced by UNCCD at the global observance event. These young changemakers from around the world are working to restore land, boost resilience to drought, develop sustainable agricultural businesses, and harness technology and innovation to tackle global environmental challenges.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: “As the focus of this year’s World Day reminds us, we must be “United for Land”. Governments, businesses, academics, communities and more must come together, and act. We know what we need to do: it’s set out clearly in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. As we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Convention, the world must dramatically pick up the pace of implementation; Build momentum towards UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh; And ensure young people are heard in the negotiations. Together, let’s sow the seeds for a thriving future – for nature and humanity.”
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