
The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be hosted by Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar from August 17-28, 2026.
"Restoring Land. Restoring Hope."
COP17 is expected to bring together delegates from UNCCD's 197 Parties, alongside leaders from government, business, and civil society, as well as scientists, youth, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, and smallholder farmers.
Participants will convene to forge solutions to the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought. The conference recognizes that restoring land is also essential to reducing instability, preventing displacement, and strengthening human and national security in vulnerable regions.
Land degradation is already affecting up to 40 percent of the world's land, with far-reaching impacts on food production, water availability, livelihoods, and economic stability.
UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad explains:
"Land is our most vital infrastructure — underpinning food security, water, livelihoods and stability. When land fails, insecurity rises — through lost livelihoods, forced displacement and increased competition over scarce resources."
"With UNCCD COP17, Mongolia is offering the world a powerful message: Restoring Land, Restoring Hope is not only an environmental agenda, but a development and resilience priority. As drought intensifies and land degradation accelerates, the conference must drive practical, investable solutions — from restoring degraded land and soils to strengthening the land–water nexus — so that communities can thrive."
COP17 offers a pivotal moment for countries and partners to strengthen implementation and mobilize greater investment in drought resilience and sustainable land management.
Desertification solutions
Land degradation reversal
Drought resilience
Sustainable land management
Land restoration
Water–land nexus
Food security through land restoration
Displacement prevention
Human and national security
Investment mobilization
Government delegates from UNCCD Parties
Policymakers in environment and agriculture
Business leaders in land management
Civil society organizations
Scientists and researchers studying land degradation
Youth advocates for environmental action
Indigenous Peoples
Pastoralists and smallholder farmers
Development practitioners
Investment professionals
Water resource managers
Climate resilience specialists
You'll engage with practical, investable solutions for restoring degraded land and soils. The conference connects environmental restoration with development priorities, recognizing land as critical infrastructure for food security, water, livelihoods, and stability.
COP17 provides opportunities to strengthen implementation of land restoration commitments and mobilize investment in drought resilience and sustainable land management.
Dates: August 17-28, 2026
Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Host: Mongolia
Theme: Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.
Parties: 197 UNCCD Parties
Focus: Desertification, land degradation, drought, resilience, sustainable land management
Format: International conference with government, business, civil society, and community participation
Visit the official UNCCD website for registration information, program details, and participation guidelines for COP17.
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