The 15th Conference of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention of Desertification (UNCCD) concluded
Recently, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention of Desertification (UNCCD) (COP-15) has concluded. This convention (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) was adopted in the year 1994.
It is the only legally binding international agreement to address the effects of desertification and drought. India is also a signatory to this agreement.
Key findings of COP-15:
New Commitments:
- The restoration of one billion hectares of degraded land will be accelerated by 2030. This will be done through improved data collection and monitoring.
- An Inter-Governmental Working Group on Drought will be set up for the years 2022-2024. This group will help in adopting proactive rather than reactive method of drought management.
- The problem of forced migration and displacement due to desertification and land degradation will be addressed. For this, such social and economic opportunities will be created, which will promote rural resilience and sustainability of livelihood.
- Women’s participation in land management will be increased as an important aid for effective land resettlement.
Other Initiatives-
- Business Initiative for Land: It aims to articulate the commitments made by participating companies towards land degradation neutrality.
- This commitment should be evident in both the supply chain and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.
- Sahel Sourcing Challenge: Communities developing the Great Green Wall (GGW) will be enabled to use technology to monitor progress, create jobs and commercialize their produce.
- The Great Green Wall is an African-led movement. Its aim is to develop the Natural (Green) Wonder of the World over 8,000 kilometers across the entire width of Africa.
- Drought-land: This is the new public awareness campaign of UNCCD.
Source – The Hindu
