21 October 2015
UNCCD GM and Partners Convene Forests and Landscape Forum
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Held from 13-15 October 2015, on the occasion of the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 12) in Ankara, Turkey, the Forests and Landscape Forum focused on ecosystem and landscape approaches to tackling land degradation and promoting restoration.

Global Mechanism15 October 2015: Held from 13-15 October 2015, on the occasion of the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 12) in Ankara, Turkey, the Forests and Landscape Forum focused on ecosystem and landscape approaches to tackling land degradation and promoting restoration.

The Forum was organized by the Global Mechanism (GM) of the UNCCD, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs of Turkey, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and other partners. Participants discussed restoration initiatives at regional, national and local levels, addressing their technical and finance-related aspects and reviewing them in relation to global targets, such as the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 15.3 on land degradation neutrality (LDN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi Target 15 on restoration of at least 15% of degraded ecosystems.

Key Forum messages included: coordination of restoration efforts and establishment of partnerships for implementation are critical steps for making an impact on the ground; the needs and interests of local communities must be at the center of land restoration efforts; an enabling environment for land restoration efforts can be achieved by supporting capacity building at the technical and institutional levels, and by developing adequate governance and policy frameworks; and mitigating investment risks, providing clear information about the cost and benefits of restoration actions, and facilitating marketplaces to match supply and demand for restoration investments, are prerequisites for attracting stronger private sector engagement in land restoration. [Global Mechanism Press Release] [IISD RS Coverage of UNCCD COP 12]


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