By Abdullahi Lukman
Colombia is to host the 2025 global observance of Desertification and Drought Day on June 17 in its capital, Bogotá, as part of the Global Land Forum. The event, themed “Restore the Land.
Unlock the Opportunities,” will bring together world leaders, experts, youth, and civil society to highlight the importance of restoring land as a key to sustainable development, peace, and inclusive growth.
The observance, held under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), underscores Colombia’s growing commitment to nature-based solutions in the fight against land degradation.
With nearly 30 percent of its land—about 34.39 million hectares—already degraded, the country is stepping up restoration efforts.
By 2030, Colombia aims to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded land, conserve 22,000 hectares of dry forest, expand agroforestry systems, and implement targeted restoration initiatives in priority regions.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance food and water security, improve rural livelihoods, and build climate resilience.
UNCCD Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw, emphasized the urgency of addressing land degradation.
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“It is a direct threat to our health, food and water security, and social stability,” he said. “I thank the Republic of Colombia for hosting this year’s observance, which will shine a light on how restoring land can protect nature, improve well-being, and build a more resilient future.”
Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Martha Viviana Carvajalino Villegas, linked land restoration to national peace and development.
“Protecting the soil is protecting life,” she said. “Without fertile soil, there is no food; without food, there is no peace.”
She added that Colombia is implementing inclusive policies such as equitable land redistribution and sustainable resource management, aimed at transforming land into “a shield against hunger, a bridge towards reconciliation, and a legacy of dignity for future generations.”
Globally, land degradation, drought, and desertification cost the economy an estimated \$878 billion each year.
However, restoring over one billion hectares of degraded land could generate up to \$1.8 trillion annually, with returns of \$7 to \$30 for every dollar invested, according to UNCCD.
Desertification and Drought Day, established by the UN General Assembly in 1994, is marked annually on June 17 to raise awareness and promote practical solutions to land degradation.
In 2025, countries worldwide are expected to join Colombia in commemorating the day through educational, cultural, and community-focused activities.
