DesertNet International (DNI) actively participated in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in Riyadh.
As part of its commitment to combating land degradation and desertification, DNI organized three significant side events, each focusing on different aspects of sustainable land management and restoration.
#1 Promoting a New System of Scientific and Societal Knowledge: Research, Education, and Training for an Effective and Contextualized Fight Against Land Degradation
The side was jointly organized by DNI, the French Scientific Committee on Desertification (CSFD), the UN University for Peace and the Desertification Research Centre (NRD) of the University of Sassari, Italy. The discussion focused on the critical role played by cooperative research and education in raising a new generation of scientists equipped to combat desertification and drought. Read the full report here
#2 The Sustainable Partnerships for African Research and Knowledge on Great Green Wall (SPARK_GGW)
The side event was co-organized by DesertNet International and The African Union Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD). The primary objective was to explore the role of research, innovation, and international cooperation in advancing the Great Green Wall Initiative’s goals, with particular attention to capacity building, knowledge sharing, and scientific partnerships. Panelists, including experts from various fields, shared their perspectives on how research, innovation, and partnerships could contribute to the success of this ambitious environmental project. Read the full report here!
#3 Rethinking desertification and land restoration: bridging science, policy and practice at COP16 UNCCD
The side event was organised by DesertNet International (DNI), within the frameworks of the SALAM-MED project (funded by the PRIMA Foundation) and the WATDEV project (part of the Desire Initiative of the European Union). The event aimed to foster dialogue on the effectiveness of desert restoration initiatives and explore alternative approaches to addressing land degradation and desertification in arid regions. Read the full report here!
