Land degradation affects ecosystems, livelihoods, food security and resilience. Ecosystem restoration provides a practical pathway for reversing degradation while supporting communities, biodiversity and sustainable land management.

This UNCCD COP17 Green Zone panel discussion will explore how ecosystem restoration can help achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in practice. Designed for a broad audience, the event will connect global, regional and country perspectives and show how restoration can help turn commitments into action across landscapes.

From global commitments to implementation

Restoration is increasingly recognized as a core response to land degradation and the biodiversity crisis. Achieving results on the ground, however, requires more than commitments: countries need effective partnerships, technical support, strong national leadership and approaches that respond to local landscapes and communities.

The discussion will examine how restoration can strengthen connections across the Rio Conventions, how regional organizations can support countries in translating priorities into implementation, and how integrated landscape approaches can help advance Land Degradation Neutrality.

FAO will provide a global perspective on the role of ecosystem restoration in achieving LDN and the importance of partnerships and country support. The Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) will share a regional perspective on how technical cooperation can help countries move from restoration priorities to action.

The session will also highlight Mongolia’s experience and priorities as COP17 host country, including integrated landscape approaches for LDN and restoration and opportunities to strengthen synergies between land and biodiversity objectives.

What will the event address?

The discussion will focus on how to:

• communicate the contribution of ecosystem restoration to Land Degradation Neutrality in practical and accessible terms;
• strengthen synergies between land degradation and biodiversity agendas through restoration;
• help countries move from restoration commitments to implementation;
• use regional technical cooperation to address implementation challenges;
• learn from national experience with integrated landscape approaches; and
• strengthen partnerships, community engagement, technical support and national leadership for restoration.

The event aims to increase understanding of why ecosystem restoration matters for LDN, give greater visibility to Mongolia’s host-country experience and priorities, highlight the role of regional organizations in supporting national implementation, and share practical lessons from country experience.

Programme highlights

The programme will move from a global and regional perspective to host-country and country experiences, followed by a moderated panel discussion and audience Q&A focused on practical restoration action, implementation challenges and opportunities for stronger cooperation.

Target audience: General public and Green Zone visitors, civil society organizations, youth and community representatives, country delegates, national practitioners, restoration and sustainable land management partners, media, and international and regional organizations.

Moderator: Mongolia Centre for Policy Research

Find more information about this event here.

• For inquiries, contact [email protected]