17 June 2012: The Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has announced three winners of its first “Land for Life Award,” highlighting community organizations that demonstrate tangible evidence of combating land degradation and promoting sustainable land management.

The UNCCD’s Land for Life Award winners, receiving a total of US$100,000, were announced at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20). The Award was launched at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the UNCCD in Changwon, Republic of Korea, in October 2011, as part of the Changwon Initiative. Over 100 applications for the prize were received from individuals, NGOs, governments, business, media and others who could demonstrate contributions to sustainable land management.

The first prize of US$40,000 went to Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL) in Haiti, which offers an integrated approach to the issues of inadequate sanitation, declining soil fertility and extensive erosion.

A prize of US$30,000 went to the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion (TEMA), the largest environmental NGO in Turkey, which mobilizes people in support of soil protection and provides practical leadership and training for holistic land management.

Also receiving US$30,000 was Conservation Efforts for Community Development (CECOD) in Uganda, which increases practical knowledge of sustainable development through a network of eco-schools.

Two organizations received special mention for their achievements: DeCo!, Ghana, and The Wand Foundation, the Philippines. [UNCCD Land for Life Award]