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
02 Newsletter 2026
3. August 2026
Half time! More than halfway through 2026, there’s already plenty to look back on and even more to look forward to! The first seven months have been filled with new partnerships, inspiring discussions, and continued progress across the GEO-LDN community.
Advancing the Great Green Wall: Technical Training Conducted in Beijing for African Union and Member States
20. July 2026
A technical training and exchange workshop supporting the Great Green Wall for Africa (GGW) initiative was successfully held in Beijing, China, bringing together more than 40 participants and technical experts from the African Union (AU), South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, and partner institutions. The workshop focused on strengthening regional capacity to apply Earth Observation (EO) technologies in addressing land degradation and promoting sustainable land management.
GEO-LDN at the GEO Symposium 2026: Building Partnerships, Sharing Experiences, and Advancing Action for Sustainable Land Management
14. July 2026
From 26–28 May 2026, members of the GEO community gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for the GEO Symposium and GEO-21 Plenary. Bringing together governments, international organizations, scientific institutions, development partners, and practitioners from around the world, the event provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, showcase progress, and discuss how Earth Observation can better support sustainable development and informed decision-making.
