Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The UNCCD Land Heroes campaign recognizes and supports young individuals and youth organizations who are making a positive impact against desertification, land degradation and drought.
The campaign aims to engage youth ages 18-35 as the agents of change for sustainable land management and the implementation of the convention. By sharing their achievements, they can inspire change, unite their peers, provide mentorship and prove the transformative power of collective action. Building on the successes of the inaugural 2020 cohort, the 2024 intake of Land Heroes was introduced during the Desertification and Drought Day 2024, and continue to inspire and mobilize youth to promote the UNCCD key objectives.
The UNCCD Land Heroes campaign recognizes and supports young individuals and youth organizations who are making a positive impact against desertification, land degradation and drought.
The campaign aims to engage youth ages 18-35 as the agents of change for sustainable land management and the implementation of the convention. By sharing their achievements, they can inspire change, unite their peers, provide mentorship and prove the transformative power of collective action. Building on the successes of the inaugural 2020 cohort, the 2024 intake of Land Heroes was introduced during the Desertification and Drought Day 2024, and continue to inspire and mobilize youth to promote the UNCCD key objectives.

![UNCCD 2026 Vision: The Road to COP17 in Mongolia | Message from Yasmine Fouad
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 UNCCD 2026 Vision: The Road to COP17 in Mongolia | Message from Yasmine Fouad](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jIJK-xHVwpo/mqdefault.jpg)








