South Africa Reaffirms Commitment to Global Efforts Against Land Degradation and Drought
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, has welcomed the call for United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) member states to intensify efforts in addressing Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD), while building strong partnerships for integrated and lasting solutions.
Swarts was delivering her keynote address at the opening of a four-day UNCCD conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sandton on Tuesday, where delegates and dignitaries from several countries were in attendance.
According to the Deputy Minister, the conference presents a platform to deliberate on pressing issues around DLDD. She noted that many of the attendees were familiar to her, having met them previously during the UNCCDs 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) held in Saudi Arabia.
She highlighted that COP16 had emphasised the need to mobilise both additional and innovative resources to help member countries accelerate ground-level actions and interventions. These actions are intended to not only address DLDD but also align with broader environmental objectives.
Swarts reiterated that DLDD is one of SAs key focus areas under its current Presidency of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG). She noted that this marks a historic moment for the G20, as it is the first time DLDD issues have been explicitly prioritised under the Presidency.
According to Swarts, this commitment reflects SAs intention to promote global solidarity in tackling the drivers of land degradation and drought, while also advancing the integration of Sustainable Land Management practices across multiple sectors.She added that the main priority for the G20 ECSWG under DLDD is the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and the delivery of tangible results through those targets.
During the same session, Baron Joseph from the UNCCD Secretariat addressed the importance of Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP) and target-setting within the broader UNCCD strategy. He emphasised the value of implementing both vertical and horizontal integration strategies to support these efforts.
According to Joseph, embracing such integration allows for more effective use of data and facilitates stronger cross-sector collaboration. He noted that once this approach is fully adopted, it can help align diverse planning efforts and ultimately lead to more impactful outcomes in combating DLDD.
The conference will continue over the next few days, with further deliberations expected to focus on aligning global, regional, and local actions toward sustainable land management and climate resilience.
Swarts was delivering her keynote address at the opening of a four-day UNCCD conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sandton on Tuesday, where delegates and dignitaries from several countries were in attendance.
According to the Deputy Minister, the conference presents a platform to deliberate on pressing issues around DLDD. She noted that many of the attendees were familiar to her, having met them previously during the UNCCDs 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) held in Saudi Arabia.
She highlighted that COP16 had emphasised the need to mobilise both additional and innovative resources to help member countries accelerate ground-level actions and interventions. These actions are intended to not only address DLDD but also align with broader environmental objectives.
Swarts reiterated that DLDD is one of SAs key focus areas under its current Presidency of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG). She noted that this marks a historic moment for the G20, as it is the first time DLDD issues have been explicitly prioritised under the Presidency.
According to Swarts, this commitment reflects SAs intention to promote global solidarity in tackling the drivers of land degradation and drought, while also advancing the integration of Sustainable Land Management practices across multiple sectors.She added that the main priority for the G20 ECSWG under DLDD is the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and the delivery of tangible results through those targets.
During the same session, Baron Joseph from the UNCCD Secretariat addressed the importance of Integrated Land Use Planning (ILUP) and target-setting within the broader UNCCD strategy. He emphasised the value of implementing both vertical and horizontal integration strategies to support these efforts.
According to Joseph, embracing such integration allows for more effective use of data and facilitates stronger cross-sector collaboration. He noted that once this approach is fully adopted, it can help align diverse planning efforts and ultimately lead to more impactful outcomes in combating DLDD.
The conference will continue over the next few days, with further deliberations expected to focus on aligning global, regional, and local actions toward sustainable land management and climate resilience.
