Online, 22 July 2026 – Representatives of the Scientific-Information Centre of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) participated in the first day of the Regional Meeting of the Parties to Annex II of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), convened online by the UNCCD Secretariat as part of the preparatory process for the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17), to be held from 17 to 28 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The meeting brought together representatives of Asian countries, members of the Convention Bureau, officials of the UNCCD Secretariat and the Global Mechanism, as well as UNCCD National Focal Points and reporting experts engaged in the preparations for the upcoming negotiations.
The primary objective of the meeting was to familiarize Parties from the region with the organizational arrangements for COP17, review the key official documents on the Conference agenda, and discuss the thematic issues that will be considered during the negotiations. Participants were informed that the high-level segment of COP17 will be structured around four thematic days: Finance Day (24 August), Water Day (25 August), Land and People Day (26 August), and Food Systems and Soil Health Day (27 August).
During the session, the UNCCD Secretariat provided an overview of the organizational arrangements for COP17, including the structure of the Conference and its principal negotiation tracks. Participants received detailed briefings on several draft official documents to be considered by the Conference, including:
- ICCD/COP(17)/6 on promoting and strengthening relationships with other relevant conventions and international organizations, institutions and agencies;
- ICCD/COP(17)/8 on the positive role that measures taken under the Convention can play in addressing desertification, land degradation and drought as drivers of migration;
- ICCD/COP(17)/9 on follow-up to policy frameworks and thematic issues related to gender, land tenure, and sand and dust storms; and
- ICCD/COP(17)/10 concerning rangelands and pastoralists. Discussions also covered cross-cutting issues related to sustainable rangeland management, gender equality and private sector engagement in sustainable land management.
The meeting provided an important opportunity to review current policy developments under the Convention, including the interlinkages between land degradation, drought and migration, gender-responsive approaches, secure land tenure, measures to address sand and dust storms, as well as sustainable rangeland management and support for pastoral communities. Participants noted that these issues are expected to feature prominently in the deliberations of COP17 and will play a significant role in shaping the future international policy agenda on sustainable land management.
Particular attention was devoted to the development of the Global Policy Agenda on Drought Risk Management. Representatives of the UNCCD Secretariat presented updated information on the preparation of COP17 decisions aimed at advancing national drought management plans, strengthening drought monitoring and early warning systems, expanding the activities of the Communities of Learning and Practice (CLPs), and promoting the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA). Participants were also briefed on the progress of the Tafa'ul Process, launched by the Presidency of Saudi Arabia following COP16 to facilitate consensus-building on the future international architecture for drought governance.
In a dedicated session, the UNCCD Global Mechanism presented updates on progress in mobilizing financial resources for the implementation of the Convention, enhancing private sector engagement, and increasing investments in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).
The meeting also introduced a number of new analytical publications and knowledge products prepared by the UNCCD Secretariat for COP17, including the global report "Rangelands Rising", which highlights the economic and environmental benefits of restoring rangeland ecosystems and identifies investment opportunities to support this sector. These materials were presented as an important scientific and analytical foundation for the preparation of national positions and for the effective participation of country delegations in the thematic discussions during COP17.
The information and analytical resources shared during the regional preparatory meeting will contribute to the more effective participation of regional delegations in the COP17 negotiations and will further support the implementation of the priorities of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development of Central Asia (REP4SD) 2020-2030, particularly those related to preventing land degradation, strengthening drought resilience, and enhancing regional cooperation in fulfilling obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
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. |