Moscow, Russian Federation, 14-16 April 2026 — The National Coordinator of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Turkmenistan, together with representatives of the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD), participated online in the International Expert Roundtable entitled “Russia – Central Asia: Dialogue on Land Degradation in the Context of Climate Change.”
The event, organized with the support of the Nature and People Foundation in partnership with a number of organizations and with grant support from the A.M. Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, brought together approximately 30 participants from Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation. Participants included UNCCD National Coordinators, representatives of international organizations, government institutions, the scientific community, and civil society organizations.
Discussion of preparations for the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP17) in Mongolia. Photocredit to SIC ICSD.
During the thematic sessions, participants discussed preparations for the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP17), including country-led initiatives and the role of the scientific community in advancing the objectives of the Convention. Particular attention was given to the activities of the Interregional Group “Central Asia – Russia,” the development of regional land condition assessments, and the preparation of an intercountry methodological guide on achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).
The programme also placed significant emphasis on enhancing synergies among the Rio Conventions, including opportunities for cooperation between the UNCCD, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), as well as the application of market-based and voluntary mechanisms to support sustainable land management.
On the second day, participants reviewed advanced international and regional practices in monitoring desertification, land degradation, and drought, including the application of digital land management platforms, methodologies for assessing soil organic carbon, and approaches to agroforestry and ecosystem restoration. Particular attention was given to the prospects for carbon farming and carbon sequestration, as well as to the role of pasture ecosystems and their sustainable management in the context of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
Within the session dedicated to national initiatives, representatives of Central Asian countries shared experiences related to monitoring dust and sand storms, glacier preservation, progress towards achieving LDN targets, and the implementation of national action programmes to combat desertification.
The final day of the roundtable focused on regional experiences in combating desertification, adapting to hazardous natural phenomena, and applying satellite-based technologies for land degradation monitoring. During the concluding discussion, participants exchanged views on key issues to be considered at COP17 and explored prospects for further strengthening interregional cooperation.
As an outcome of the roundtable, the preparation of a Joint Statement by participating countries was initiated, aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and consolidating efforts to address land degradation, desertification, and drought in the context of climate change.
Participation of SIC ICSD representatives in this event contributed to strengthening expert dialogue, facilitating the exchange of best practices, and advancing regional cooperation between Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation in the field of sustainable land management.
The event contributes to the achievement of:
| Priority Area No 5 dedicated to SDG 15: “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems” |
| 5.1.1 Integration of the ecosystem approach for climate change adaptation at the strategic, programmatic and project levels to improve cross-sectoral collaboration (and sectoral plans) and ecosystem protection, restoration and sustainable management. |
| 5.1.2 Capacity-building for sustainable management of forests, land, and pastures. |
| 5.1.7 use of modern monitoring methods to account for flora and fauna species, ecosystem conditions, land resources. |
| Priority area No 6 of REP4SD dedicated to SDG 17: “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development” |
| 6.1 Involvement of the region into implementation of global environmental conventions, programmes and initiatives. |