UNCCD COP16 Marks Key Milestone in Combating Land Degradation, Al-Fadley Says.

Riyadh: Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and President of the Conference of the Parties to the 16th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) Eng. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley stressed the importance of enhancing international cooperation to rehabilitate degraded lands and said the conference represents a major milestone in our joint journey towards reducing land degradation and drought and promoting sustainable development. According to Saudi Press Agency, this came during Al-Fadley's speech today at the panel discussion 'Business for Land Forum.' He also highlighted the Kingdom's achievements in addressing the challenges of drought, food security, and water security, emphasizing that the Kingdom has implemented a range of advanced strategies in these areas over the past decades. The strategies included developing irrigation systems, applying advanced agricultural techniques, and improving the sustainable management of water resources. Such efforts have transfo rmed barren lands into productive farms, enhanced well-being, and created new economic opportunities. Al-Fadley explained that Saudi Arabia, through its presidency of COP16, aims to strengthen global efforts to protect and sustainably manage lands, with goals that include rehabilitating 1.5 billion hectares by 2030, aligning the objectives of the three Rio Conventions, and expanding partnerships between the public and private sectors. He added that the private sector plays a key role in supporting research and innovation and bridging the financial gap, estimated at $1 billion per day, necessary to achieve the goals of land degradation neutrality. He also pointed out that holding the Business for Land Forum reflects the commitment to enhancing partnerships between the convention parties and private-sector stakeholders while aligning institutional strategies with sustainable development goals. Al-Fadley concluded his speech by calling for teamwork to achieve sustainable land management and rehabilitation, en suring the well-being of current and future generations. He emphasized that collective efforts are the cornerstone of addressing global environmental challenges.