IUCN ISSUES BRIEFS
IUCN Issues Briefs provide an accessible overview of the often complex issues related to nature conservation and desertification, land degradation and drought.
Large event 07 Aug, 2026
IUCN at UNCCD COP17
A targeted delegation of experts, led by Director General Grethel Aguilar, will represent IUCN at the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), which will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 7 to 28 August 2026.
Under the theme ‘Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.' UNCCD COP17 is the first of the three Rio Conventions to meet in 2026. Taking place at a moment when ambition must translate into measurable results on the ground, the conference also coincides with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), placing an overdue spotlight on ecosystems that cover more than half of the Earth's land surface and sustain the livelihoods of around 500 million people. COP17 must be a turning point for implementation.
As a partner to the UNCCD since 2011, IUCN supports progress towards policies and programmes that deliver Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) through integrated approaches that address the drivers of land degradation while advancing ecosystem conservation, sustainable land management, restoration, and Nature-based Solutions. IUCN encourages Parties to consider a range of interventions to help achieve LDN, including greater commitment to rangeland and grassland restoration, drought management, and the involvement of all stakeholders and groups.
In addition to following and contributing to the negotiations, IUCN will host a pavilion in the Blue Zone of the COP venue. Under the theme 'From Promise to Practice: Nature Delivering Now,' the IUCN pavilion will provide a platform for collaboration and dialogue, seeking to amplify IUCN’s key messages for the COP, and highlighting the need to back up global commitments with concrete action on the ground.
IUCN’s key messages at UNCCD COP17:
- Increase ambition to deepen coordination and strengthen national integration of the Rio Conventions, without sacrificing dedicated financing.
- Invest in rangelands and empower pastoralists as leaders in sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation.
- Advance a proactive global drought process that integrates nature metrics, technology, and traditional knowledge.
- Commit to mitigating sand and dust storms at the source through ecosystem restoration and manage risks through a One Health approach.
- Anchor farmers, soil health and security, and Nature-based Solutions for agriculture in LDN achievement.
- Strengthen the structural participation of civil society, Indigenous Peoples, and women across UNCCD processes and LDN implementation.
Position paper
2026
Land degradation now affects up to 40% of the Earth's surface, with cascading consequences for biodiversity, climate change, water security, food systems, and the stability of communities. Yet…
Issues brief
Drylands are areas which face great water scarcity. They cover over 40% of the earth's land surface, and are home to more than two billion people.
They are highly adapted to climatic variability…
Issues brief
Drylands are home to species and people that have developed unique strategies to cope with the climatic variability unique to this environment.
Drylands are particularly affected by climate…
Issues brief
The health of soils is dependent on the variety of organisms they contain, known as soil biodiversity.
The amount of soil biodiversity determines the productivity of land, and thus the…
Issues brief
Climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity and magnitude of disasters, leading to a higher number of deaths, injuries and increased economic losses.
Nature-based solutions, such as…
RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS
Publication
2024
Historically, droughts have caused extensive damage. Effective responses to drought remain a challenge, with reactive and crisis-oriented approaches dominating many interventions. The…
Publication
2024
In 2021, IUCN launched the IUCN Flagship Report Series, to help demonstrate the importance of conserving nature for human well-being and all life on Earth. This report, the second in the series,…
Publication
2023
Biodiversity is context-specific, and there are no one-size-fits-all indicators or monitoring methodologies. Nevertheless, the lack of common metrics to measure and monitor …
Publication
2025
The IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™ was developed during a two-year process, aiming at setting a common basis of understanding for NbS, and providing a robust framework to design,…
Grey literature
2026
This guide explores the finance gap facing CSOs, Indigenous Peoples and local communities working on land restoration and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Based on survey evidence from 226…
Other brief
2026
Dryland and rangeland mosaics across Africa face drought, degraded cover, and blocked mobility, eroding food, fodder, and stability. Agroecology is a proven, people-centred way to stitch these…
Jointly published
2022
This participatory grassland and rangeland assessment (PRAGA) methodology was developed for the assessment of rangelands and grasslands in selected project countries. It was developed through the…
Other brief
2025
Well-managed and conserved grasslands play key but often unrecognised roles in countering climate change. Benefits come through the provision of ecosystem services to help us adapt to a changing…