At the UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, the event “From National Reporting to Shared Action: Strengthening Regional Cooperation across the Rio Conventions” brought together partners to discuss the launch of the Support Hubs and Technical Advisors Network for the 2026 UNCCD National Reporting Process.
The event featured three panels focusing on country needs, the role of science and Earth observation, and stronger coordination across the Rio Conventions.
Pictured: Dr. Amadou Sall and Bernd Eversmann (GEO-LDN Secretariat) infront of the UNCCD COP17 sign in Ulaanbaatar. Photo Credit: GEO-LDN Secretariat.
During the final panel, Dr. Amadou Sall, Senior Technical Adviser to the Director General at the Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE), GEO Principal for Senegal, GEO Executive Committee Member representing Africa, and Strategic Advisor for GEO LDN, highlighted the potential of the Support Hubs to strengthen coherence in the support provided to countries.
As he noted, from space, desertification, biodiversity and climate change cannot be separated: “It is one land.” The same Earth observation data and national geospatial infrastructure can support work across all three Rio Conventions.
The challenge, therefore, is not simply to build a bridge between the Conventions, but to strengthen coherence in how countries are supported. Dr. Sall highlighted the burden faced by countries preparing separate reports for different Conventions, often drawing on the same land, data and technical capacities.
He outlined three contributions GEO can bring to the emerging network: a mandate, building on COP16 Decisions 2 and 8; technical depth, through GEO initiatives and partners working across land, biodiversity, agriculture, forests and data; and reach, through GEO’s 117 member governments.
Looking ahead, Dr. Sall expressed GEO’s support for serving as a convener of the Support Hubs, in close collaboration with the UNCCD Secretariat, and proposed a dialogue with the Hubs and interested Parties in 2027 towards a shared roadmap.
The message was clear: support should not stop at reporting, but can evolve towards stronger connections between reporting, planning, implementation and impact across the Rio Conventions.
“The land is one. Let our support to countries be one as well.”
We want to thank Dr. Sall for his thoughtful statement and for representing GEO and GEO LDN in this important discussion at COP17.
