29 July 2015: The 5th Kubuqi International Desert Forum, which convened in Erdos, Inner Mongolia, China, under the theme ‘Desert Ecological Civilization and Co-Building Silk Roads,’ developed the 10-year Kubuqi Action Plan of Global Desertification Control and unveiled the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 2015 Land for Life Awards winners.
A key aim of the Forum was to explore new approaches for strengthening partnerships among scientists, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups “to combat desertification along the Silk Road,” and formulate a strategic framework for the implementation of the “One Belt One Road” project. The meeting also sought to contribute to the achievement of global goals for land degradation neutrality. The Forum was officially opened by Wang Yang, Vice Premier of China.
In his message, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lamented that the world loses approximately 12 million hectares of productive land every year, which is equivalent to one-tenth of China. He noted that explicit references made to land issues in the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could mark a “radical departure” towards land degradation neutrality by ensuring that “every hectare of degraded land is offset through rehabilitating another hectare or more land within the same ecosystem.” The Secretary-General welcomed progress made by China’s Green Land Partnership Programme, a public-private partnership, in combating desertification, reducing the sand storms that emanate from Inner Mongolia, and lifting people from poverty.
Announcing the 2015 recipients of the UNCCD Land for Life Award, Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, lauded the two winners from Egypt and China for exemplifying the type of leadership and initiatives that businesses could undertake with regard to sustainable land management. She noted that their work “has not only benefited local communities by improving their livelihoods and creating local job opportunities, but has also contributed to conserving nature.”
SEKEM, from Egypt, was recognized for adopting biodynamic agricultural methods to rehabilitate more than 2,000 hectares of desert land in the country. The company was also lauded for being a world pioneer in developing organic cotton cultivation, creating 1,500 jobs, and helping to reduce 90% of chemical use in the textile industry in Egypt.
Elion Resources Group, from China, was recognized for turning 11,000 km2 of degraded land into productive use by promoting the production of green energy, and improving the livelihoods of 100,000 farmers and herdsmen living in the Kubuqi Desert. The Group was lauded for launching an eco-environmental restoration project and a related funding mechanism, the Green Silk Road Equity Investment Fund, in collaboration with other private enterprises.
The Kubuqi International Desert Forum was inaugurated in 2007 and takes place every two years. [UNCCD News on Forum] [UNCCD News on Vice Premier Opening Forum] [UN Press Release] [UNCCD Announcement on Award Winners] [Forum Website]