Brazil to join COP17 debates on desertification in Mongolia
Starting next Monday (Aug. 17), representatives from 196 countries and the European Union will gather in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, to seek solutions to an environmental crisis that threatens biodiversity, food security, and water sustainability across the entire planet. The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) is the main decision-making body of the United Nations Convention to…
Starting Monday, delegates from 196 nations and the European Union will convene in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The summit will focus on combating land degradation, desertification, and drought on a global scale. COP17's theme is "Restoring the Land.
Restoring Hope." Notably, Brazil will participate in the debates alongside representatives from various other countries, the scientific community, civil society, and the private sector. Brazil's delegation will be hosted at the Brazil Pavilion within the main conference area (Blue Zone).
Desertification is a significant concern for Brazil, particularly in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions such as the Caatinga biome, which spans several Northeastern states and parts of Minas Gerais. According to recent data, 18 percent of Brazil's territory is susceptible to desertification, affecting around 39 million people. Desertification occurs primarily due to human activities like deforestation and unsuitable agricultural practices, as well as climate variability.
Mongolia was chosen as the host country for COP17 due to its strategic position along the historic trade routes used by pastoralist peoples for over 2,000 years. The country is currently experiencing the impacts of land degradation and drought, making it a fitting venue for the conference. COP17 will take place during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), an initiative aimed at raising awareness about these crucial ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
The conference will highlight the importance of grasslands and pastoralism in food security and environmental conservation. It will also emphasize the need for increased political support and financial investment to sustainably manage and restore degraded lands worldwide. As the UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad, notes, the conference comes at a critical time when drought is increasingly recognized as a global risk that requires early and proactive action.
Written by urgent.news from Agencia Brasil's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
