<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">From: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">Marcos Montoiro <<a href="mailto:mmontoiro@unccd.int" class="">mmontoiro@unccd.int</a>><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class=""><b class="">[unccd-cso] UNCCD PRESS RELEASE – Mongolia to host next UN conference on sustainable land management</b><br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">Date: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">21 February 2025 at 15:12:23 PM CET<br class=""></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;" class=""><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);" class=""><b class="">To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;" class="">UNCCD-CSO <<a href="mailto:unccd-cso@googlegroups.com" class="">unccd-cso@googlegroups.com</a>><br class=""></span></div><br class=""><div class=""><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: HelveticaNeue; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; 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color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">UNCCD Press Release</span></strong></a><br class=""><br class=""><strong class=""><span style="font-family: Roboto;" class="">Mongolia to host next UN conference on sustainable land management </span></strong></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><br class=""></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><br class=""></span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><a href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=5347f9f27e&e=5b9c04c931" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">Chinese</span></a> I<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=3db04b05d0&e=5b9c04c931" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">Russian</span></a> I<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=37deb455ad&e=5b9c04c931" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">Spanish</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><strong class=""><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">Bonn, 21 February 2025</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>– The Government of Mongolia and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) have signed an agreement paving the way for the 17th session of the Convention’s Conference of the Parties (COP17) in Ulaanbaatar in 2026. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">COP17 will bring together UNCCD’s 197 Parties in a crucial global forum to accelerate action against desertification, land degradation and drought. As one of the most affected countries by desertification, with nearly 77 per cent of its land degraded, Mongolia will leverage COP17 to drive solutions for land restoration, sustainable land management and resilience-building across the world. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">At the signing ceremony in Bonn, Her Excellency Odontuya Saldan, Mongolia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, said: "Mongolia is committed to combating desertification and restoring degraded lands. Through initiatives like the 'Billion Trees' campaign, we are taking decisive steps to protect our environment and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come." </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said: "The urgency of addressing desertification and drought cannot be overstated. COP17 in Mongolia will build on the momentum from COP16 in Riyadh to enhance global commitments, strengthen financial mechanisms and foster cross-sector partnerships." </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">According to UNCCD data, up to 40 percent of the world’s land is degraded, affecting nearly half of humanity and threatening climate stability, biodiversity and livelihoods. Addressing land degradation is essential for food security, water availability and resilience to climate change. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">COP17, set for 2026 during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP)—declared by the United Nations General Assembly and championed by Mongolia— will build on efforts to promote the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">These vast grazing ecosystems are vital for the economy, food security, biodiversity and climate resilience, yet more than 50 per cent are facing alarming degradation. Rangelands not only support smallholder herders, farmers and indigenous communities but also play a crucial role in stabilizing soil, regulating water cycles, enhancing biodiversity and storing carbon. Strengthening their management is essential for the economy of the estimated 500 million pastoralists, making COP17 a key moment for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">With 60 percent of Central Asia and Mongolia’s land used as grazing rangelands, supporting nearly one-third of the region’s population, sustainable land management is a national priority. Despite their value, they have historically received less attention and funding than forests and wetlands. COP17 and the IYRP will provide a vital platform to advance sustainable land management and reinforce global commitments to rangeland restoration. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">The two-week conference will feature a high-level segment, thematic dialogues and forums, including the Gender Caucus and the first-ever Indigenous Peoples Caucus. In addition, Youth Forum and the Business4Land Forum will engage youth and the private sector in sustainable land management solutions. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">COP17 in Mongolia will serve as a global platform to address climate challenges, with a focus on desertification, drought and renewable energy transition. Strengthening international cooperation will be key to boosting climate investment, creating green jobs and fostering sustainable development. Mongolia faces serious environmental threats, including soil degradation, sand and dust storms and desertification, making environmental protection and green growth national priorities. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">In line with its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, Mongolia aims to reduce deforestation and forest degradation to maintain forest cover at 9 per cent of the total area by 2030, promote sustainable grassland management to halt further degradation, increase agricultural yields and ensure no net loss of wetlands by 2030. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">Building on the progress made at UNCCD COP16 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024, nations will work towards finalizing a comprehensive global drought regime to enhance preparedness and resilience against increasing drought risks. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">For more information, please contact: </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">UNCCD Press Office, <a href="mailto:press@unccd.int" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">press@unccd.int</span></a>, </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""> <a href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=17cf6244a7&e=5b9c04c931" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">https://www.unccd.int</span></a>/, <a href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=e605e8ae80&e=5b9c04c931" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">@unccd</span></a> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">About UNCCD </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><a href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=a1e6502209&e=5b9c04c931" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">https://unccd.int </span></a> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">About the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class="">On the initiative of Mongolia, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) to enhance rangeland management and the lives of pastoralists. With this declaration, UN Member States are called upon to invest in sustainable rangeland management, to restore degraded lands, to improve market access by pastoralists, to enhance livestock extension services, and to fill knowledge gaps on rangelands and pastoralism. The IYRP 2026 will coincide with the UNCCD COP17 to be hosted by Mongolia. </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 21px; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><a href="https://unccd.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d257fa3ad4084c603979d0e42&id=715fc1b076&e=5b9c04c931" target="_blank" class=""><span style="color: rgb(43, 170, 223);" class="">https://iyrp.info </span></a> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(32, 32, 32);" class=""> <o:p class=""></o:p></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr class=""><td valign="top" style="padding: 0in;" class=""><div align="center" class=""><table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" id="templateColumns" style="width: 624px; 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