SER at the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Desertification and drought affect one-quarter of the world. The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this December, continued to highlight the challenges and consequences of land degradation associated with desertification and drought, emphasizing the unique importance of proactive approaches to addressing these environmental issues, including land restoration.

4 December: From Soils to the Arabian Leopard – A Manifesto for Comprehensive Regeneration showcased an ambitious landscape-level regeneration project in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, which integrates ecosystem restoration with biodiversity conservation. SER and our local partners are supporting the development of a standards-based landscape-level restoration plan for AlUla County. Watch here.

6 December: This highly interactive UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Workshop provided a platform for strategizing global restoration efforts, celebrating successes to date, and brainstorming priorities for the second half of the UN Decade. Participants came from around the world and represented a wide variety of sectors. One highlight was the comments of an 8-year-old delegate who proudly and eloquently encouraged the delegates to help secure a healthier planet for not only her generation but for future generations.

Bethanie Walder shaking the hand of the 8-year-old delegate.

6 December: In Drought Resilience through an Integrated Landscape Restoration Approach experts demonstrated how holistic landscape restoration can address interconnected challenges such as drought, biodiversity loss, and climate resilience. Given the unique challenge of restoration in arid land ecosystems, standards become an important tool for reducing risk and uncertainty in restoration delivery. Watch here.

7 December: The session Scaling Up Land Restoration: Bridging Large-Scale and Grassroots Efforts for Sustainable and Long-Term Impact emphasized the importance of inclusive, collaborative strategies in large-scale restoration efforts. This session helped make a connection between the UNCBD and UNCCD objectives. Watch here.

10 December: Guidance, Resources, and Case Studies to Support the Delivery of Global Restoration Goals provided practical insights, tools, and compelling case studies to support the implementation of global restoration objectives. It also emphasized the value and impact of standards-based restoration. Watch here.

The Riyadh Action Agenda, launched by the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, aims to mobilize key stakeholders and drive funding for restoration and drought resilience, supporting the UNCCD's goal to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030. Through sharing best practices, standards, and the latest restoration knowledge, SER supports practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and funders in delivering effective restoration that will improve the well-being of both people and nature.