#COPSoil 2024 Events

• When: 3 December, 11:30 - 13:00

• Where: G20 Global Land Initiative Restoration Pavilion

• Lead Organizers: ICRAF & CA4SH

The event will focus on soil health as a key area for action across climate, desertification, and biodiversity agendas. It will underscore soil health's critical role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, combating desertification, and supporting biodiversity and ecosystems. Discussions will highlight how improving soil health can strengthen food systems, improve food security, enhance biodiversity, and promote overall environmental sustainability. Additionally, the event will provide key insights to inform national plans on desertification, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and biodiversity strategies. 

Effective implementation of soil health solutions requires a paradigm shift in how we approach implementation, how we engage and how we generate (and communicate) the evidence to influence policy and practice. This event will call for the use of evidence-based practices in soil health management and showcase innovations in soil health monitoring and management, such as CIFOR-ICRAF's Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF). The LDSF fills critical gaps in terms of consistent and reliable information on land degradation status and trends over time. 

The event encourages a cross-sectoral approach to delivering soil health solutions and collaboration among governments, scientists, industry leaders, NGOs, and local communities. The goal is to integrate diverse perspectives and expertise into comprehensive strategies addressing soil health, climate action, desertification, and biodiversity conservation in a holistic manner. The Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health will be presented as an example of successful collaboration. The Coalition advocates for multi-stakeholder partners to facilitate the adoption and scaling of a global mechanism and processes.

The event aims to influence policy-making by providing insights such as establishing robust mechanisms for monitoring soil health, assessing degradation, and tracking restoration progress. Also, to implement and incorporate gender-transformative, equitable and socially inclusive approaches into land restoration implementation, activities and policies. Additionally, it will highlight the importance of investing in soil restoration programs, particularly in areas affected by desertification and land degradation. 

• When: 4 December, 9:00 - 10:30

• Where: MET-02

• Lead Organizers: ICRAF & CA4SH

Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable and regenerative food systems and provide several vital ecosystem services. Sequestering carbon in soils, for example, can have multiple benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation, food and nutrition security, biodiversity, and water resilience. However one third of the Earth’s surface is degraded, negatively affecting 3.2 billion people annually. Therefore, targeted investments in soil health are urgently needed. This includes investments in robust methods for monitoring soil health to prioritize and track land management efforts over time.

This session will showcase advancements in soil health monitoring from robust field survey designs, to innovations in laboratory methods including soil spectroscopy, as well as advancements in remote sensing to track the impact of land restoration interventions. The session will highlight the critical importance for these monitoring methodologies to fill key knowledge gaps on the impact of land management and landscape restoration practices on soil health. Furthermore, this session will highlight the inclusion of citizen science, to bring stakeholders and communities into the monitoring process, which can lead to the scaling of healthy soil practice. Finally, this session will discuss opportunities to bring evidence to bear for decision-making.

The event will contribute to the objectives of COP16 by showcasing successful examples of land restoration initiatives and their impact on soil health. Innovative approaches and technologies for soil health and land restoration monitoring will be presented to equip stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to drive the implementation of the UNCCD’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. The inclusion of citizen science and community engagement in monitoring efforts aligns with the UNCCD’s emphasis on participatory approaches, which can enhance the sustainability and scalability of restoration and soil health initiatives. The event aims to inspire action and collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate the restoration of degraded land by 2030, in line with the objective to build effective partnerships at global and national level.

• When: 4 December 2024, 11: 00 – 12:30

• Where: TBD

• Lead Organizers: ICRAF, EU

• When: 4 December 2024, 15:30 - 17:00

• Where: Green Zone Pavilion 1

• Lead Organizers: ICRAF, AFoCO/LPA, AFR100

• When: 5 December, 11:00 - 12:30

• Where: Food & Agriculture Pavilion

• Lead Organizers: CA4SH & ICRAF

• Partners: CIMMYT, VACS, Action on Food Hub

Healthy soil is the very foundation of our food systems and food and nutrition security, and provides several vital ecosystem services, including nutritious food, water regulation, habitat for biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. However, over one-third of the Earth’s surface is degraded, limiting the soil’s ability to provide these critical services. In particular, vulnerable rangeland ecosystems face significant challenges which have been exacerbated by climate change  and thus require urgent  action. Reversing these trends will require scaling of holistic landscape restoration strategies that prioritize soil health and incorporate diverse perspectives, including scientific research and Indigenous Knowledge, leverage data and evidence, and ensure ensure the participation of youth and local communities. This will be enabled through increased access to knowledge and information, implementation of advanced monitoring systems, increased financial investments in soil health and filling key knowledge gaps around the impact of land management on soil health. 

This session will highlight scientific advances, applications, and lessons learned for inclusivity and collaboration across soil health research and development, fundamental to land restoration. Specifically, we will highlight advancements in soil and land health monitoring and demonstrate how this evidence can inform investments and programs across the globe. This includes the GEF-IUCN-ILRI led STELARR project, the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) initiative, citizen science data collection, and global monitoring frameworks including the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF).  The STELARR project, for example, aims to unlock private sector finance for rangeland improvement and restoration  through sustainable livestock value chains. We will explore how soil health underpins all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and serves as a critical level for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). We will highlight how soil health can play a critical role in addressing some of the most pressing global challenges, including poverty, hunger, climate change, biodiversity loss, drought and land degradation. 

We will showcase successful case studies that integrate diverse sources of knowledge to inform policy decisions and improve soil health, alongside public-private partnerships that foster diversified agricultural systems and sustainable land use and learn from initiatives such as the VACS which seeks to foster resilient agri-food systems by building healthy soils among other objectives. We will also demonstrate how systematically monitoring indicators of rangeland health using tools and frameworks such as the LDSF underpins not only their restoration but their sustainability. The LDSF is a comprehensive method designed to provide a biophysical baseline of  ecosystem health at the landscape level (https://ldsf.thegrit.earth/). Citizen science will be emphasized as a key tool in advancing landscape restoration efforts. By engaging communities in data collection and monitoring, we can harness local knowledge to develop equitable and context-specific land management strategies. 

The event will call for a paradigm shift toward holistic practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable productivity, needed to achieve successful landscape restoration. This will require sustained, collective and collaborative action, inclusive decision making and collaborative innovation building on cutting edge science and local knowledge. Participants will engage in robust discussions, share valuable insights, and foster partnerships, paving the way for resilient ecosystems that sustain livelihoods and contribute to global efforts against land degradation and to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality and the SDGs. 

• When: 5 December, 11:00 - 12:30

• Where: TBA

• Lead Organizers: CIFOR-ICRAF, NCVC

• When: 5 December 2024, 13:00 – 14:30

• Where: TBD

• Partners: ICRAF, GEF

• When: Thursday 5th December, 15:00-16:30h

• Where: Food & Agriculture Pavilion

• Lead Organizers: FAO

• Partners: Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, ICARDA, ILRI

This side event addresses FAO’s call for a thorough understanding of carbon sequestration potential in drylands managed as silvopastoral systems. It reports on the progress of a joint initiative between FAO’s COFO Working Group (WG) and the Alliance Bioversity-CIAT. This collaborative effort aims to gather scientific evidence and analyse best practices from local experts and practitioners worldwide.

The initiative will:

1. Estimate current carbon stocks and other climate-related factors in drylands with SPSs.

2. Model future carbon sequestration potential of SPSs in these areas.

3. Compile a catalogue of mitigation actions that enhance the decarbonization potential of drylands and SPSs.

4. Display a narrative addressing the climatic role of traditional and modern silvopastoral systems.

This assessment will be backed by a thorough literature review, case studies, and forward-looking scenario analyses, providing a solid foundation for understanding and action plans.

The side event will present the first results of this assessment, promoting an evidence-based approach to enhancing the carbon sequestration potential of drylands through strategically implemented silvopastoral systems. The planned presentations, speakers, and dialogue will reinforce sustainable management and restoration of drylands, aligning with global efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change, thus increasing resilience and supporting the livelihoods dependent on these areas.

Objectives of the event include:

1. Establishing the scientific rationale for enhancing the role of dryland silvopastoral systems in carbon sequestration and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Reporting on the progress made by the joint initiative between the COFO WG on Drylands and the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance in exploring the potential of dryland silvopastoral systems for global decarbonization.

3. Presenting successful practices from various countries and regions to illustrate the mitigation and adaptation potential of silvopastoralism.

4. Addressing some core issues regarding the use of Silvopastoral Systems in a decarbonization complex, such as assessing, monitoring and governance.

Through these efforts, the event aims to deepen our understanding of how well-managed silvopastoral systems can contribute to climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods in dryland ecosystems.

• When: 5 December, 17:30 - 19:00

• Where: Blue Zone

• Lead Organizer: IUCN

• Partners: IUCN, CA4SH, ICRAF, WWF International, 4 per 1000

Soil health is the foundation of sustainable food systems, ecosystem resilience, food security, as well as climate mitigation and adaptation. Yet, over one-third of the Earth’s surface is degraded, affecting 3.2 billion people globally. Though smallholders farmers play a critical role in maintaining healthy soil, they often lack access to necessary knowledge and resources. There are also few policies that incentivize farmers to invest in practices to improve soil health. 

This event will explore the socio-economic, policy, and practical aspects of conserving and enhancing soil health for food security and resilience. It will bring together soil policy advocates, researchers, investors, businesses, government, and farming communities to discuss strategies for integrating soil health into national and international policies, financing mechanisms, and on-the-ground practices. 

It will highlight the financial challenges faced by smallholder farmers and discuss innovative financing mechanisms to support the transition to regenerative practices. It will underscore the need for robust monitoring systems to inform evidence-based policy frameworks, address knowledge gaps, and track progress in soil conservation. 

It will address the critical need for multi-stakeholder action to enhance soil health, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches that span across climate, land degradation, and biodiversity agendas. The discussion will focus on creating an equitable, transparent and multi-stakeholder enabling environment that supports sustainable land management and benefits smallholder farmers.

The event will serve as a platform to share ongoing work, such as IUCN’s Land Health Monitoring Framework and the Red List of Soil Species, as well as CIFOR-ICRAF’s research on soil health in the tropics. It will also feature the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health’s Call to Action, which aims to galvanize global commitment to embrace, adapt and endorse the critical role of soil health for a healthy planet and to accelerate multi-stakeholder efforts that will ultimately contribute to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) goals and the integration of soil health in climate (Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs) and biodiversity agendas (National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

• When: 6 December 2024, 9:00 - 10:30

• Where: TBA

• Lead Organizations: TNC, WWF

• When: 6 December, 9:00 - 10:30

• Where: MET-05

• Lead Organizers: CA4SH, ICRAF, WWF International, 4 per 1000

• Partners: BSSS, YPARD, WBCSD

Land degradation continues to impact 3.2 billion people negatively. Healthy soil is an integral part of the solution, as it is the foundation of sustainable and regenerative food systems and provides vital ecosystem services. However, there are few policies that incentivize farmers and pastoralists to invest in practices to maintain and improve soil health. There is considerable international momentum around soil health, such as the Australian National Soil Strategy, the European Soil Strategy for 2030, the United Kingdom Soil Health Inquiry, and the Nairobi Declaration from the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit. However, translating these decisions into enabling policy mechanisms is not a linear path as countries still face major challenges in implementation. Moreover, multi-stakeholder action is needed to build an equitable and transparent enabling environment at multiple levels for supporting, financing, scaling, and monitoring healthy soil ecosystems. 

The event will highlight on-the-ground implementation and opportunities for evidence-based policy framework to contribute to food systems transformation and land restoration, from the soil up. It will bring together stakeholders from research, policy, development, farmer organizations, policymakers and governments to discuss opportunities to engage and integrate soil health into policy and strategies at national, regional and international level - and ultimately contribute to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) goals. 

The panel will reflect upon the main challenges and entry points in bringing soil health to the table in policy, the current knowledge gaps and critical mechanisms that are needed to enable soil health to be better integrated into policy, and explore how global agreements such as the LDN goals can be translated into national level implementation. 

The Call to Action for Soil Health will be presented to galvanize support from member states and advance the commitments of the Soil Health Resolution. The Resolution, developed by CA4SH and 4 per 1000, provides a framework for member states and the COP Presidencies to embrace, adapt, and endorse the critical role of soil health for land restoration, food security, livelihoods, climate action, biodiversity, and to combat drought. The Call to Action aims to contribute to the COP16 and implementation of the UNCCD by raising global ambition and accelerating multi-stakeholder action to build healthy soil ecosystems and achieve LDN goals. 

• When: 6 December 2024, 13:00 – 14:30

• Where: TBD

• Lead Partners: ICRAF, AGRA

• When: 6 December, 16:00 - 17:30

• Where: G20 Global Land Initiative Restoration Pavilion

• Lead Organizers: CA4SH, ICRAF, Peace Parks International, Conservation International, G20 Global Land Initiative

• Partners: AUDA-NEPAD, WWF International, Rabobank, IRLI, IUCN

Grasslands, savannahs and shrublands comprise over half of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, two-thirds (62 percent) of which are found across Africa. These ecosystems are integral to the livelihoods of an estimated 50 million pastoralists and directly support at least 200 million people. However, approximately 700 million hectares of these ecosystems are degraded, threatening water catchment, carbon sequestration, and community livelihoods. 

This side event will explore the critical role of sustainable livestock management in restoring rangelands, improving soil health, and mitigating climate change. It will highlight how properly managed livestock can serve as a mechanism to reverse rangeland degradation, enhance soil organic carbon (SOC), and promote ecosystem resilience. 

Key topics will include the profiling of grasslands and savannahs as well as soil carbon as integral to these solutions. The event will showcase successful conservation strategies that advance the wellbeing of communal livestock farmers, rebuild ecosystems resilience and sequester carbon. Evidence from community-led initiatives will demonstrate the economic, social, and environmental benefits of integrating livestock into land restoration efforts. These initiatives not only improve biodiversity and soil health but also provide economic value to farmers and pastoralists through improved livestock sales, leading to better livelihoods and food security.

A focal point will be the Herding for Health (H4H) model, a climate smart grazing approach for managing and restoring grasslands, savannahs and shrublands across Africa. The event will explore opportunities for scaling this model to achieve broader impacts. 

The event will focus on how these approaches can contribute to the broader UNCCD goals, including restoration of 1.5 billion hectares of degraded ecosystems by 2050. Emphasis will be placed on mobilizing investment in climate-smart, resilient agricultural models that offer both adaptation and mitigation benefits. The need for supportive policies and multi-stakeholder partnerships to scale these solutions will also be addressed. 

Participants will gain insights from a keynote presentation, a fireside chat with speakers, and a Q&A session, exploring the opportunities and challenges of using livestock as a mechanism for rangeland restoration. The event will conclude with a call to action for increased investment and collaboration in sustainable livestock management to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality, improve soil health, and contribute to global development goals. 

• When: 7 December, 9:00 - 10:30

• Where: MET-04

• Lead Organizers: YPARD & CA4SH

• Partners: ICRAF, UNCCD Youth Caucus, YOUNGO Food & Agriculture WG, WOCAT, Action on Food Hub, International Land Coalition

Women, youth, and marginalized communities often play a central role in managing and conserving land resources, and our meaningful involvement can significantly enhance the effectiveness of land restoration efforts. However, women and youth, especially young women, are often disadvantaged when it comes to ownership and access to land, undermining our indispensable contributions to food security and their communities. Actively addressing gender and age disparities in land tenure systems ensures that the diverse needs and perspectives of all community members are considered, leading to more sustainable and equitable environmental outcomes. 

In this event, speakers will uncover some of the key barriers for women and youth to access and manage land in their communities, and discuss strategies to overcome these challenges. 

To highlight the importance of inclusive and sustainable land management, speakers will showcase climate-smart, resilient agricultural models that are gender-responsive. These models can offer significant adaptation and mitigation benefits, accelerate progress towards Land Degradation Neutrality, improve living conditions for vulnerable populations, and bolster community resilience against the impacts of drought. 

With a special focus on land tenure, participants will gain insights into the opportunities and challenges of mainstreaming gender and youth in restoration programs, and the critical role that women, youth and marginalized communities play in restoring degraded land. 

By fostering a people-centered approach to land management, this event aims to mobilize global action, strengthen women’s land rights, promote youth engagement, and build partnerships that can drive the implementation of the UNCCD and contribute to the outcomes of COP16. 

• When: 7 December, 11:00 - 12:30

• Where: MET-07

• Lead Organizers: IUAF & CIFOR-ICRAF

• Partners: CA4SH

• When: 16:00 - 18:00

• Where: TBA

• Lead Organizations: UNCCD Youth Caucus, UNEP, UNCCD

Building on the recently launched UNCCD Youth Engagement Strategy and recognizing the critical role of young people in addressing the challenges of land degradation and desertification, the Global Youth Caucus on Land and Desertification (UNCCD Youth Caucus) together with the UNCCD secretariat, the host country of COP16, UNEP, UN Women, UNDP, AGFUND, ICESCO, IOM, ILO, Aeon collective, GIZ, LANDESA and Misk Foundation are organising a three-day forum aiming to empower young leaders, facilitate knowledge exchange, and catalyze action towards restoring and protecting our lands for future generations and will serve as a platform for youth to exchange ideas, build skills, and mobilize action towards a sustainable future for our lands. 

By empowering young leaders and fostering collaboration, we can make significant strides in addressing land degradation and desertification, contributing to global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the objectives of the UNCCD as young people are stewards of the future, youth are key actors in driving positive change and fostering sustainable land management practices. 

Objectives:

1. Empower youth to become advocates for sustainable land management while amplifying youth voices and perspectives to increase the visibility of youth, building upon YES, the outcomes of the Youth Voices towards UNCCD COP16, and the Youth Caucus Call to Action. 

2. Encourage the different stakeholders to implement the YES and the activities identified to ensure the meaningful engagement of the youth

3. Foster collaboration and networking among young leaders working on land-related issues 

4. Provide a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building on effective land restoration and conservation strategies fostering education and capacity building, especially for youth, on DLDD.

5. Generate innovative solutions and actionable recommendations to address land degradation and desertification.

6. Provide recommendations to the Parties to ensure the stronger, effective and meaningful participation of youth in meetings and process of the convention.

7.  Promote solutions and provide opportunities to young people particularly in the creation and establishment of green, decent and land-based jobs for youth. 

Main outcome of the Youth Forum:

• Joint Youth Statement to be presented to and adopted by the parties during COP16

The youth conference will be closed on the occasion of People’s Day on 7th December with the organization of a 2 hours high level event with the participation of the COP President, the Minister of Human Resources and Social of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, high rank government officials and youth representatives to present the outcomes of the conference and commitments for ensuring the meaningful engagement of the youth

• When: 9:00 - 10:00

• Where: Restoration Pavilion (G20 Global Land Initiative)

• Lead Organizations: GLF, CIFOR-ICRAF, EU

• When: 9:45 - 10:45

• Where: TBA

• Lead Organizations: UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI)

• When: 10 December, 13:00 - 14:30

• Lead Organizer: BSSS

This interactive session, chaired by pre-eminent scientist Prof Jack Hannam, will explore effective soil use and management to promote resilience and adaptation in the context of expanding land degradation, rising global temperatures, extreme weather events and large biodiversity loss. Addressing the challenges of soil degradation requires a varied toolbox that includes solutions from robust policy frameworks, private and public investment and effective governance mechanisms. Policy instruments are needed to support and prioritise soil conservation, restoration, and sustainable management and resilience.

This discussion session brings together policy advocates, researchers and practitioners, to delve into the multifaceted dimensions of soil policy, governance and the need for collaboration. Underpinned by science, we will discover innovative strategies, best practices, and emerging trends that highlight how various policy instruments can be used to safeguard soil health and promote sustainable land management practices.

Panel:

• Prof. Jack Hannam, BSSS President (Chair)

• Jean-Luc Chotte, IRD

• Dr Olga Andreeva, UNCCD

• Lulseged Tamene Desta, Alliance of Bioversity International

• When: 11 December, 13:00 - 14:30

• Where: MET-06

• Lead Organizers: ICRAF, CA4SH, WWF International, 4 per 1000, BSSS

• Partners: One Acre Fund, Rabobank, WBCSD

Soil is the foundation of our ecosystems, underpinning food production, water filtration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and overall ecosystem resilience. Yet, financing for soil conservation and restoration has been fragmented and insufficient. This gap leaves farmers - especially smallholder farmers, who manage 24% of global agricultural land and produce over 30% of the world’s food - facing significant barriers to accessing financial support. The transition to regenerative practices, while essential for improving soil health, often leads to a short-term yield decrease before long-term benefits are realized. Without adequate support, many farmers struggle to bridge this gap. 

This side event will focus on mobilizing resources and innovative financing mechanisms to support soil health and land restoration at multiple scales - from farm-level initiatives to national and international strategies. We will explore how healthy soil can act as a critical ally in climate mitigation and adaptation, combating drought, conserving biodiversity, food security, and achieving the goals of Land Degradation Neutrality. The discussion will align with COP16’s agenda, particularly in terms of enhancing the resilience of ecosystems and communities to drought and desertification, with a strong emphasis on soil health and land restoration as a key strategy to achieve this resilience.  

Key areas of discussion will include emerging finance mechanisms such as carbon markets, repurposing subsidies, legislation, and blended finance approaches. The event will explore practical strategies for scaling soil health initiatives, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive policy environment to attract and mobilize investments. The focus will be on actionable financial solutions that can be implemented at scale, directly benefiting farmers and ecosystems. 

The event will present concrete solutions that have been implemented on the ground, for example in the African context. The event will convene investors, policymakers, and practioners to explore concrete strategies that support farmers in their transition to sustainable land management and regenerative systems, thereby contributing to the overarching goals of the COP16.

• When: 10:00 - 11:00

• Where: Restoration Pavilion (G20 Global Land Initiative)

• Lead Organizations: WWF

This event will focus on the urgent global goal of restoring 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030, with an emphasis on grasslands, savannahs and rangelands, which are essential for food security, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. These ecosystems are increasingly under threat due to land conversion, degradation, and misguided afforestation efforts. The event will explore the intersection of finance, science, and partnerships to overcome key challenges in rangeland restoration, drawing on case studies and experiences from Kenya, Brazil, and other regions.

Drawing on a diverse range of experts, the event will examine how public and private sector financing can be better leveraged, how scientific monitoring plays a critical role in successful restoration, and how local communities can be empowered to sustainably manage their rangelands. By discussing lessons from ongoing projects, and lived experiences from pastoralist communities, the event aims to explore institutional and financial barriers that must be addressed to scale up restoration efforts.

Event Objectives:

• Explore how to enhance devolved finance for rangeland restoration.

• Identify how scientific monitoring can improve the effectiveness of restoration projects.

• Discuss the role of local communities in sustainable rangeland management and the synergies between livestock production and biodiversity conservation.

• Share lessons learned from restoration projects in Southern Kenya, USA, and beyond.