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UNCCD Launches Rangelands Flagship Initiative at COP17
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) launches the Rangelands Flagship Initiative at its COP in Mongolia. The initiative is presented as a multi-partner global effort on rangelands and pastoralists, with an investment and policy focus linked to Land Degradation Neutrality and climate and biodiversity action.
Rangelands Flagship Initiative:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Launch | Has been launched at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia during the International Year on Rangelands and Pastoralists (2026), and the report also describes it as launched at UNCCD COP13 in Mongolia. |
| Support under UNCCD | Is supported by several Resolutions of Parties to the Convention, including COP16/L.15 on Rangelands and Pastoralists. |
| Goal | Comprises goals: reduce poverty, increase food security, and target synergy between combatting desertification, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. |
| Objectives | Comprises objectives: mobilise greater public and private investment for conserving, sustainably managing, and restoring rangelands; and provide for synergy between desertification control, biodiversity conservation, and climate action. |
| Components | Comprises 3 components: Knowledge, Investment, and Institutions. |
| Knowledge component | Provides for supporting knowledge products, including “LDN Principles for Sustainable Rangeland”, Sustainable Rangelands Standard, guidance on assessment of rangeland health, and cost-benefit analysis of rangeland restoration. |
| Investment component | Provides for increasing public and private investment in rangelands and developing a portfolio of rangeland restoration investment projects addressing land degradation, drought resilience, biodiversity loss, carbon sequestration, climate adaptation, cultural heritage, food security, and livestock value chains. |
| Institutions component | Provides for strengthening institutions to promote rangeland policy and investment, and establishing a global coalition to advocate for rangeland policy and investment. |
| Global Biodiversity Framework linkage | Provides for measures to increase conservation of biodiversity, in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework. |
| Climate resilience linkage | Provides for advancing sustainable land management to improve resilience to climate change impacts. |
| NDC linkage (UNFCCC) | Provides for integration of rangelands and sustainable grazing into Nationally Determined Contributions in line with recommendations from UNFCCC COP27. |