United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP 16

Why in the news?

• The 16th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) (COP16) is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• It will be held from 2 to 13 December.
• Its theme is - Our land, our future.
• India is being represented in this conference by Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Desertification:

• Desertification is a geographical process in which desert-like features start developing even in fertile areas due to natural or man-made factors.
• In this, due to many reasons including climate change and human activities, the biological productivity of dry, semi-arid, waterless areas decreases and the land turns into a desert.
• It leads to a loss of productive capacity of land, degradation of natural vegetation and reduction in agricultural productivity, although it does not necessarily mean the expansion of existing deserts.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):

• It was established in 1994.
• It is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
• India became a signatory in 1994 and ratified it in 1996.
• It aims to protect and restore land and combat desertification and drought.
• Secretariat – Bonn (Germany)
• It currently has 197 members, including 196 countries and the European Union.

Goals:

• Reduce the impact of land degradation
• Protect and restore land
• Ensure a safer, fairer and more sustainable future
• Provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people