We Must ‘Restore Degraded Soils, Manage Our Land Better’, Secretary-General Says in Message for Celebration of World Day to Combat Desertification

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the global celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification, in Beijing today:

I am pleased to send greetings to [the] high-level participants to the Global Celebration of the World Day to Combat Desertification.

I commend the State Forestry Administration of the People’s Republic of China for hosting it.

Desertification and land degradation are major concerns worldwide.  1.3 billion hectares of land are affected in Asia alone.

Land degradation threatens people’s livelihoods and well-being, food and water security, biodiversity and the stability of nations and regions.

Climate change is making the situation worse.  That is why world leaders made land degradation neutrality one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

To combat desertification, we must restore degraded soils and manage our land better.  Sustainable, climate-smart agriculture can reduce poverty, build climate resilience, solve food insecurity and help reduce migration due to environmental degradation.

I commend China for promoting green, low-carbon infrastructure in cooperation with neighbouring countries through its “Belt and Road” development strategy.  Other regional programmes, such as “Initiative 20x20” in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the “Great Green Wall” for the Sahel show that sustainable progress is possible.

Our slogan for this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification is:  “Protect Earth.  Restore land.  Engage people.”

Let us work together to achieve land degradation neutrality and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  Let us build a future of dignity and opportunity for all.