Upcoming Events
GEO-LDN Flagship
The GEO Land Degradation Neutrality Flagship (GEO-LDN) is a stakeholder-driven initiative that was launched in 2018 during the GEO Week in Kyoto, Japan, responding to a request by the UNCCD’s Conference of the Parties (COP13). It brings together Earth observation data providers and governments to develop minimum data quality standards, analytical tools and capacity building needed to strengthen land degradation monitoring and reporting, using remote sensing and data collected on site.
GEO-LDN helps governments to access the necessary datasets and tools to prioritize interventions, monitor outcomes to manage land better and to report on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 15.3.1 (Decision 9/COP.13).
“Countries should not have to navigate multiple disconnected support systems.”
In this statement recorded for the GEO Symposium 2026 Community Event, Barron J. Orr (Chief Scientist at the UNCCD) reflects on the progress made through the GEO-LDN Initiative and outlines the next step: moving from coordination to operational integration across GEO initiatives, interoperable data and tools, and coordinated regional support for countries implementing the Rio Conventions.
The LDN Toolbox is a user-oriented entry point to a suite of analytical tools, datasets and methods for land use planning towards land degradation neutrality. The workflow of the toolbox is structured according to the typical 5 phases of an integrated land use planning cycle, as presented in a report of the UNCCD Science-Policy interface on “The contribution of integrated land use planning and integrated landscape management to implementing Land Degradation Neutrality: Entry points and support tools”.
Latest News
Virtual Participation in the NAP Expo 2024
7. May 2024
At NAP Expo 2024 (Bangladesh), CI’s Alex Zvoleff—co-lead of GEO-LDN Working Group 3, stressed that credible adaptation planning starts with mapping degraded land. With GEF-backed Trends.Earth, CI and GEO-LDN support countries to use Earth observation data for monitoring and advancing Land Degradation Neutrality.
GEO-LDN Launches First Online Support Session
7. May 2024
On 19 March 2024, GEO-LDN launched its first Online Support Session, building on the momentum of the Global Dialogue Forum 2023. Fourteen intersectoral country teams shared progress and challenges on their LDN roadmaps, engaging with international experts for peer-to-peer exchange, technical support, and feedback to improve geodata tools and strengthen SDG 15.3.1 reporting.
GEO-LDN Principals’ Meeting 2024
7. May 2024
On 11–12 March 2024, GEO-LDN principals met in Bonn to review 2023 milestones, set the 2024 plan, and prepare for strong engagement at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh. Discussions focused on strengthening the global network and sustaining country engagement, with follow-on contributions to UNCCD’s revision of Good Practice Guidance for SDG 15.3.1.
