United for Land, United for LDN: GEO-LDN at UNCCD’s 30th Anniversary and Desertification and Drought Day 2024
With the future of our land at stake, the 2024 Desertification and Drought Day (WDDD) carried a vital mission: to spotlight the importance of land stewardship for future generations. Centred on the theme “United for Land: Our Legacy, Our Future,” the Global Observance Event was held on 17 June 2024 at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn, Germany, marking the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The event was hosted with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
GEO-LDN’s contribution to WDDD 2024
GEO-LDN actively supported the observance and surrounding outreach events. Members of the GEO-LDN Secretariat provided on-site logistical support at the Global Observance Event and acted as ambassadors at the mobile booth, which featured interactive activities including:
- A quiz on land degradation and its impacts on the global food system
- A soil experiment that engaged participants of all ages
These activities generated wide public interest and highlighted the urgency of addressing land degradation and drought. GEO-LDN also contributed to the Biodiversity Day on 26 May and the Museumsmeilenfest at Museum Koenig on 23 June, further strengthening outreach to diverse audiences.
Beyond the event: GEO-LDN’s impact
In addition to supporting WDDD, GEO-LDN advanced the mission of land stewardship through several new initiatives:
- Launch of an e-learning course on “Using land-cover information to monitor SDG 15”, jointly developed with UNCCD and FAO, providing essential training for professionals engaged in SDG monitoring, reporting, and sustainable natural resource management.
- Introduction of Working Group 3’s Decision Support System, designed to provide evidence-based, target-specific support to intersectoral country teams.
- Soft launch of the GEO-LDN Helpdesk, offering direct assistance to stakeholders, with an official launch event to follow.
- Kick-off of the #HowtoLDN campaign, showcasing the progress of intersectoral country teams on their roadmaps to Land Degradation Neutrality across our website and social media platforms.
Looking ahead
By combining global observance with local outreach and the rollout of new tools, GEO-LDN demonstrated its solidarity with UNCCD’s mission and its commitment to supporting countries in their journey towards Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).
For more information on how GEO-LDN supports countries on their path to Land Degradation Neutrality, contact us at info@geo-ldn.org
