UNCCD COP 17 17-28 August 2026 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Under the theme "Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.", the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) will focus on advancing practical solutions that support land restoration, resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and investment in healthy ecosystems. What is the UNCCD COP? Today, up to 40% of the world's land is degraded, affecting more than 3.2 billion people. Since 1997, UNCCD COP addresses the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought. It is one of three major UN environmental conferences taking place in 2026, alongside CBD COP17 and UNFCCC COP31. FSC presence at UNCCD COP17 Land restoration is not only about addressing desertification and drought. Forests also play an important role in restoring degraded land, supporting biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience, and sustaining livelihoods. At UNCCD COP17, FSC will share practical examples from the forestry sector of how sustainable forest management, conservation, and restoration can contribute to global efforts to restore ecosystems, build long-term resilience, and support local communities. In 2026, for the first time, we will attend UNCCD COP and participate in the following events: Sessions and side events Event: The Role of Forests in Meeting the UNCCD Objectives Date & time: 17 August 2026, 15:00–16:30 Speakers: Minnie Degawan, FSC Indigenous Foundation Managing Director Cindy Cheng, FSC Asia Pacific Regional Director The session will feature a keynote address by Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Chair of the FSC Indigenous Foundation Council, followed by a panel discussion with Indigenous Peoples' leaders, civil society representatives, and a government representative. FSC delegation Cindy Cheng, FSC Asia Pacific Regional Director Minnie Degawan, FSC Indigenous Foundation Managing Director Camila Cosse Braslavsky, FSC International Global Affairs Officer and delegation coordinator for UNCCD COP17 Rifat Aldina, FSC International Climate, Biodiversity and Restoration Manager Learn more How FSC addresses deforestation and forest degradation FSC Verified Impact approach FSC Climate and Biodiversity Strategy If you would like to connect with FSC during UNCCD COP17, please reach out to our Advocacy team to arrange a meeting: engagement@fsc.org. Our FSC representatives are available for exclusive interviews. For media requests, please contact media@fsc.org.
