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Press
Release
World Day to Combat Desertification
2018
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Desertification
Day to focus on consumers making smart
investments in the
land
Bonn, 7 February
2018. Thirty percent of all land is
degraded, and has lost its true value. Land
grabbing and a headlong rush for productive land
signals a growing recognition that access to
productive land will be crucial for future
economic growth, peace and stability. The World
Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) to be
marked worldwide on 17 June 2018 will focus on
how consumers can regenerate economies, create
jobs and revitalize livelihoods and communities
by influencing the market to invest in
sustainable land management through what we
buy.
Unveiling the theme, Monique
Barbut, Under-Secretary General of the United
Nations and Executive Secretary of the UN
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),
said “the campaign slogan, ‘Land has true value.
Invest in it’, reminds us that land is a
tangible asset with measurable value beyond just
cash. That value is lost through degradation.
But we can encourage land users to use land
management practices that keep the land
productive by the decisions we make every day in
what we buy to eat, drink and
wear.”
A mapping of the impacts of
our individual decisions by the Global
Land Outlook shows the real picture. An analysis
of the food consumed in the city London
found that around 80 per cent of the food is
imported from other countries. The footprint
for the Netherlands shows that the country
needs four times its own land area to feed its
people.
“Every coin a consumer spends
determines where investments by the private
sector and governments go – either to land
degrading ventures or towards good land use
practices. Let’s not underestimate how our small
individual decisions transform the world, so
let’s choose wisely with our purchases,” Ms
Barbut said.
The sustainable
development goal target to achieve land
degradation neutrality by 2030 is an important
response to these challenges. It will help to
recover degraded lands, stop land grabbing,
fight climate change, increase food production
and provide clean water.
The global
observance of the Day in 2018 will be hosted by
the Government of Ecuador. Ecuador promotes
smart and healthy consumerism and supports the
use of sustainable land use practices such as
bioeconomy, which is an impact indicator of the
National Development Plan
(2017-2020).
The World Day to
Combat Desertification was established by the UN
General Assembly 23 years ago to be celebrated
by every country in order to raise global
awareness about the status of, and the priority
actions taken at global and national levels to
reverse desertification land degradation and
strengthen responses to
drought.
Click here and get
Notes for editors ( English, French, Spanish):
Purpose of the World Day
Celebrations; Status of Desertification,
Land Degradation and Drought and International
Cooperation; 2018 Campaign Theme; Key Data
and Facts on Consumer Choices from the Global
Land Outlook; Campaign
Material; Social Media Campaign
Tools to promote the WDCD. The shared plans
will be posted in the WDCD site of the UNCCD
homepage by countries and
regions. | | |
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For additional
information please
contact:
Ms. Wagaki Wischnewski
Public Information and Media
Officer, click here | |
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For more information on
the World Day to Combat Desertification
contact:
Ms. Yukie Hori UNCCD
Communication team
leader/Spokesperson
YH...@unccd.int | |
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Contact for your
campaign plans and materials
to:
External Relations, Policy and
Advocacy Unit
United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
P.O. Box
260129, 53153 Bonn, Germany
Email:
2018...@unccd.int | |
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The United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) is the only legally binding
international agreement on land issues. The
Convention promotes good land stewardship. Its
196 Parties aim, through partnerships, to
implement the Convention and achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals. The end goal is
to protect our land, from over-use and drought,
so it can continue to provide us all with food,
water and energy. By sustainably managing land
and striving to achieve land degradation
neutrality, now and in the future, we will
reduce the impact of climate change, avoid
conflict over natural resources and help
communities to
thrive. | | |
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Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification
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Sent:
Wednesday, February 07, 2018 7:58 PM
Subject: Press
Release World Day to Combat Desertification 2018
Press Release World
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