Pictured: Panel Discussion at the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Global Forum, featuring GEO-LDN Co-Chair Antje Hecheltjen and WG Co-Lead Dr. Ingrid Teich.
Rome | 5–9 May 2025
From 5 to 9 May, GEO-LDN actively engaged in the GEO Global Forum in Rome, contributing to discussions on the value of Earth observation data for monitoring and national reporting processes. The week highlighted the relevance of geospatial information in supporting countries to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and reinforced GEO-LDN’s positioning as a Flagship Initiative.
The initiative also had the opportunity to showcase at the European Commission booth, connecting with partners and forum participants.
Key reflections from the week included:
“Germany also directly supports a number of GEO initiatives. Currently, most notable is the multi-year funding of the GEO-LDN Secretariat by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Numerous positive feedbacks from the UNCCD and from partner countries involved in GEO-LDN clearly show us how meaningful our commitment in this area is.”
— Dr. Dirk Engelbart, GEO Germany Principal
“In particular, we welcome the confirmation of GEO-LDN as a Flagship Initiative in the GEO Work Programme. We note that its objectives are strongly aligned with the priorities outlined in the GEO Post-2025 Strategy Implementation Plan. We are therefore confident that GEO-LDN will continue to be instrumental in empowering countries to translate the ambition of Land Degradation Neutrality into measurable outcomes on the ground.”
— Statement by the UNCCD, GEO Global Forum 2025
The GEO Global Forum 2025 provided an important platform for GEO-LDN to strengthen partnerships, exchange expertise, and highlight the role of geospatial data in delivering actionable results for sustainable land management worldwide.
