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land restoration

ICBA Highlights Key Issues in the Fight Against Desertification at COP16

by rachel 6 months ago

written by rachel

In a bit to seal its role as a global leader in addressing desertification, land degradation and food insecurity, the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) participated in COP16. Members of the organisation hosted and attended sessions, promoting topics such as stress-tolerant crops, climate resilient solutions, women and youth empowerment, and scientific innovation.

“At COP16, ICBA demonstrated the power of inclusive collaboration and science-driven solutions to combat land degradation,” said Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA. “Our focus on empowering women, advancing biosaline agriculture, and building capacity underscores our commitment to creating sustainable and resilient communities. Our contributions to soil health, stress-tolerant crops, and regenerative agriculture reflect ICBA’s role in delivering scalable solutions tailored to arid and saline environments.”

Strategic Dialogues and Innovations

During the Food and Agricultural Systems Day, Dr. Alzaabi participated in the “NENA High-Level Breakfast Dialogue on Investment for Planet and People,” organised by the UNCCD Secretariat and key regional stakeholders. Dr. Tarifa emphasised the need for climate-resilient solutions, capacity development, and nature-based approaches to drive sustainable development and ecosystem restoration in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.

In a session organized by ICRISAT and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), titled “Unlocking Opportunities of Dryland Cereal Food Systems,” Dr. Alzaabi outlined ICBA’s advancements in stress-tolerant crops such as millet and sorghum, efficient water use, and biosaline agriculture. She also highlighted ICBA’s flagship programs, including AWLA and ICBA-YES, which empower women and youth to lead innovation and build resilience in dryland agriculture.

At the UAE Pavilion, Dr. Alzaabi, alongside Ms. Nour El Jundi, Project Development Specialist at ICBA, led a Fireside Chat titled “Biosaline Accelerators for Land Restoration”. Aiming to explore innovative biosaline agriculture practices and their transformative potential in sustainable land restoration and combating land degradation, key discussions revolved around ICBA’s solutions, including the use of salt-tolerant crops and innovative technologies to restore degraded lands and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability in arid regions.

Empowering Communities Through Science and Collaboration

Dr. Charbel Tarraf, Chief Operations and Development at ICBA, contributed to the session ‘Innovative Multi-faceted Approaches to Land Restoration’, organised by the UNCCD and ICBA. He highlighted biosaline agriculture as a transformative tool for rehabilitating degraded lands, and underscored the critical role of women in advancing sustainable land management. The discussion showcased ICBA’s integrative methodologies, combining scientific innovation, technological advancements, and community-based practices.

During the Agri-Food Systems Day, Ms. Nour El Jundi represented ICBA in the session “Regenerative Agriculture as a Solution to Desertification,” organised by SOMA MATER. She showcased ICBA’s expertise in regenerative agricultural practices, detailing approaches that restore degraded lands, enhance soil health, and promote sustainable food systems in arid regions.

ICBA hosted the session “Soil Health to Combat Land Desertification” at the UAE Pavilion, featuring contributions from Dr. Tarraf, Mrs. Ryma Affani, Curator of the Emirates Soil Museum, and Dr. Ahmed El-Naggar, Soil Management Scientist. The session highlighted biosaline techniques for soil restoration and presented the Emirates Soil Museum as a hub for capacity development and knowledge sharing. Advanced research on soil amendments and microbial solutions demonstrated innovative methods for enhancing land resilience.

Stress-tolerant Seeds Showcase

ICBA was featured as part of the UAE Pavilion at COP16, highlighting its role as a centre of excellence for smart resilience and water management technologies. The pavilion showcased ICBA’s innovative approaches to tackling climate challenges, including its portfolio of stress-tolerant seeds, which include UAE-native varieties designed for saline and arid environments.

These seeds enhance biodiversity, combat soil erosion, and improve agricultural resilience. Additionally, ICBA presented land rehabilitation techniques, such as the use of Prosopis juliflora, demonstrating practical solutions for addressing desertification and promoting sustainable agriculture.

6 months ago 0 comments

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UAE Concludes COP16 Participation, Reinforcing the Role of International Cooperation in Combating Desertification

by rachel 6 months ago

written by rachel

The United Arab Emirates concluded its participation in the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) by emphasising the importance of strengthening international cooperation to develop practical solutions for halting desertification and addressing drought. The UAE also underlined the importance of the active involvement of all community groups, with a focus on enhancing the role of women in global sustainable land management.

COP16 was held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13 under the theme “Our Land. Our Future”. The conference aimed to explore strategies for transforming land degradation into renewal. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) serves as the global advocate for bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society to address challenges and collaboratively shape a sustainable future for land.

“COP16 on combating desertification marked a new chapter in the UAE’s achievements to address the global drought crisis and halting land degradation”, said Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, who led the UAE delegation at the conference.

“Through effective contributions to global efforts, the UAE has strengthened sustainable agriculture and food systems, and leveraged innovation to develop solutions to the global water crisis, particularly through the ‘Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative’ and other efforts.”

“The participation of the Emirati work teams, representing relevant authorities in the country, exemplified our collaboration and unity in pursuing shared goals. Our goals include addressing national challenges, expanding innovation-driven agriculture and food systems, promoting sustainable water management, and maximising the benefits derived from natural resources while preventing waste. Additionally, our teams played an active role in rallying global efforts in this regard.”

Interactive Engagements

During his participation in a session titled ‘Strengthening the Environmental Dimension of Food Systems Amid a Polycrisis in the Arab Region’, His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, emphasised that water scarcity is a significant challenge for the Arab region. As one of the most arid places in the world, the Arab region faces immense pressure on its limited freshwater resources especially for agriculture.

“We must invest in climate-smart land solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change and enhance climate resilience across the Arab region”, said HE Al Nuaimi. “The success of these efforts hinges on cooperation, as the active participation and coordination among the various stakeholders is urgently needed to achieve the shared goals of our Arab nations.”

His Excellency said that tackling the challenges of climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, and desertification calls for concerted regional efforts. These include leveraging advanced technologies, strengthening resource management, and enhancing international cooperation.

His Excellency also highlighted the ‘Plant the Emirates’ National Programme, which aims to empower local communities in achieving sustainable food security in the UAE by encouraging their participation in agricultural practices. HE also referred to the ‘National Agriculture Centre’, which aims to advance research and innovation in agricultural technologies.

Hiba Obaid Al Shehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector at MOCCAE, participated in a session titled ‘High Level Interactive Dialogue of the Gender Caucus: HerLand: Women’s leadership on sustainable land management’. She emphasised the UAE’s commitment to gender equality as part of the nation’s efforts to address the impact of climate change, particularly in sustainable land management.

““The climate crisis does not affect one gender more than the other; both women and men are significantly impacted by climate change”, said Hiba Obaid Al Shehhi. “This presents a unique opportunity to strengthen efforts to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought, while enhancing the leadership role of women and girls by leveraging their expertise, knowledge, and skills.”

“The presence of women in this field globally remains modest, which necessitates the formulation of more effective and inclusive policies and projects. Women constitute nearly 50 per cent of the agricultural workforce worldwide; however, they own less than one-fifth of the total land globally.”

Al Shehhi highlighted the significant role of the UAE in empowering women in agriculture through efforts that included a project to enhance the capabilities of refugees in Uganda, funded by the Sheikha Fatima Fund for Refugee Women, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

“The call to enhance the role of women in achieving climate resilience and land restoration aligns with our national strategies. Women play a pivotal role in shaping policies and driving innovative solutions to combat land degradation and desertification”, she added.

Hiba Al Shehhi also participated in a session titled ‘Multilateral Environmental Agreements Synergies for Strengthened Environmental Governance: Insights from the Bern III Conference’, where she emphasised that climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation represent a link between interconnected environmental crises, reinforcing how addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive response.

Al Shehhi described the launch of the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) by the UAE in collaboration with the Republic of Indonesia, which aims to globally expand the planting of mangrove trees, which act as natural carbon sinks, and serve as a vital link in preserving the marine environment and biodiversity. The alliance currently includes 45 countries. She also shed light on the groundbreaking ceremony of the Mohamed bin Zayed – Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre in Indonesia, which will lead research and innovation efforts to expand mangrove forests globally.

Furthermore, Al Shehhi emphasised the importance of enhancing international cooperation by aligning actions with global frameworks such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure coherent strategies – “Policy tools at national level can help enhance cooperation among diverse sectors”, she said.

6 months ago 0 comments

Environment Latest News Policy & Finance

COP16 Presidency Calls on Private Sector to ‘Ramp Up’ Funding in Land Restoration Finance ‘Blackhole’

by rachel 7 months ago

written by rachel

In an effort to accelerate land restoration financing, Saudi Arabia’s UNCCD COP16 Presidency called for the private sector to ‘ramp up’ funding, after a UNCCD report highlighted only 6 per cent of financial commitments for land resilience and drought restoration came from private sources.

UNCCD have also highlighted the cost of inaction, with the potential for the global economy to lose $23 trillion by 2050 due to land degradation, desertification and drought.

On the 4th December, Saudi Arabia’s Presidency launched Land Day, the first of seven thematic days designed to focus on key areas within land degradation, desertification and drought. One of the central matters driving debate during the day concerned the urgent need to unlock private sector investment to mobilise international resources for land restoration.

Key events took place on Land Day to amplify awareness and action – the Business for Land forum brought together decision-makers from business, government and civil society to explore the intersection of business, finance and policy, and promote private sector engagement in addressing land degradation.

“Through our Presidency of COP16 we will work to make this COP a launchpad to strengthen public and private partnerships and create a roadmap to rehabilitate 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030″, said Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen AlFadley, UNCCD COP16 President and Saudi Arabia Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

Following a series of events this year at the UN General Assembly, the CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia and COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the ‘Rio Convention Synergies’ dialogue also took place on Land Day, highlighting developments made during the 2024 Rio Trio events. The event discussed the interconnected issues driving land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change, and how to find common solutions.

“If the international community is to deliver land restoration at the scale required, then the private sector simply must ramp up investment”, said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency. “As the latest UNCCD findings show, there remains a worrying blackhole in the funds needed to combat land degradation, desertification and drought”.

“For decades businesses have profited from land, now is the time to embrace restoration and invest in futureproofing the foundations of businesses, industries and whole economies. At COP16 in Riyadh we are working to mobilise both the public and private sector, to further incentivise investment, and ultimately, help unlock a potential trillion-dollar restoration economy.”

The day also outlined the unique issues facing different types of land around the world, and the potential solutions to arrest their degradation. From forests to rangelands, which are natural grasslands used by livestock and wild animals to graze and forage. Rangelands also include savannas, shrublands, wetlands, tundra and deserts, and account for approximately 54 per cent of all land cover according to the UNCCD.

During Land Day discussions on ‘Protecting and Restoring Rangelands’ took place to mobilise investments in the preservation, protection, and restoration of global rangelands. Sessions offered participants insights into science-backed solutions for combating land degradation and drought, and the crucial role of finance in the circular economy.

“Rangelands are a vital ecosystem for people around the world, nurturing lives and livelihoods”, added Dr. Faqeeha. “However, they are facing acute degradation with over 50 per cent of rangelands already degraded. This is having a drastic impact, putting at risk 1/6^th of humanity’s food supply and 1/3^rd of the planets carbon reservoir. The continued depletion of these vital lands is driving food insecurity, climate change, biodiversity loss and forced migration.”

7 months ago 0 comments