- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is being observed globally on June 17.
- Desertification was identified as one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.
- In 1994, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
- This legally binding international agreement linked the environment and development to sustainable land management.
- In addition to the UNCCD, the UN proclaimed June 17 as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
- The day is observed to spread awareness about international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought. It also reminds people that desertification can be effectively tackled, solutions are possible and important is participation and cooperation at all levels are important.
- In 2026, Desertification and Drought Day put rangelands at the centre of global attention. Held under the theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”, this year’s observance calls for greater recognition of the economic, ecological and cultural value of rangelands, respect for their traditional stewards and stronger investment in restoring degraded rangelands.
- Rangelands are among the world’s most extensive yet most overlooked ecosystems. Covering more than half of the Earth’s land surface, they play a vital role in food security, water cycles, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. They support the lives of around two billion people worldwide, including many pastoralists and Indigenous Peoples whose knowledge and stewardship have sustained these landscapes for generations.
- This year’s event aligns with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, helping to underscore the need to raise awareness, encourage responsible investment and strengthen policies that safeguard rangelands and pastoralist livelihoods.
- The United Nations General Assembly at its 76th session declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the Year in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):
- It is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
- It was set up to address desertification and the effects of drought.
- Adopted on June 17, 1994, it entered into force on December 26, 1996 after the 50th ratification was received.
- The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions—along with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—and was called for in Agenda 21, the programme of action adopted at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, or Earth Summit).
- There are 197 Parties to the Convention, including 196 country Parties and the European Union.
- It works together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.
- Parties to the Convention meet in Conferences of the Parties (COP) every two years, as well as in technical meetings throughout the year.
- The UNCCD permanent secretariat is located in Bonn, Germany.
- The UNCCD’s success relies on reliable, up-to-date information on drought, desertification and land degradation.
- Every 4 years, parties must report on the actions they have undertaken to implement the convention.