Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad outlines the critical path ahead for 2026, a defining year for the UNCCD, marked by the upcoming COP17 in Mongolia and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

She speaks directly to the staff, partners, civil society, and investors who bring the convention to life. She highlights the unique convergence of the three Rio Conventions (Desertification, Climate Change, and Biodiversity) and emphasizes that land restoration is not just about soil it is about people, livelihoods, and our shared future.


[Timestamps]

0:00 – Introduction: 2026 as a special year for the planet

0:48 – A message to the UNCCD Secretariat

1:41 – To our partners: Governments & International Institutions

2:37 – To Civil Society, Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities

3:41 – To the Financial Community: The economic value of Rangelands

5:02 – Conclusion: Making 2026 a year of delivery

Learn more about our road to COP17 and the International Year of Rangelands: https://www.unccd.int/

#UNCCD #LandRestoration #COP17 #ClimateAction #Biodiversity #UnitedNations #Rangelands2026 #YasmineFouad