Ulaanbaatar, August 17, 2026: The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) opened in Ulaanbaatar on Monday, bringing together representatives from 196 countries and the European Union to accelerate global action on land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable land management.
The two-week conference, running from August 17 to 28, is expected to draw delegates from UNCCD Parties, international organizations, financial institutions, businesses, scientists, civil society and land-dependent communities.
Mobilizing public and private investment for land restoration and drought resilience is among the key priorities of COP17. Governments are also expected to advance decisions on drought resilience, rangelands, sustainable agriculture, soils, resource mobilization and private-sector engagement.
Rising threat from land degradation and drought
Land degradation and drought are estimated to cost the global economy nearly US$900 billion annually and affect up to 40% of the world’s land and 3.2 billion people.
Droughts have increased by almost one-third since 2000 and now cause at least US$300 billion in annual economic losses, highlighting the growing need for stronger preparedness and resilience.
As the first of the three Rio Convention COPs taking place in 2026, COP17 also provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among the UNCCD, biodiversity and climate conventions on interconnected challenges such as land degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change, food security and water resilience.
For host country Mongolia, these challenges are particularly acute. Nearly 77% of the country’s land is degraded, while pastoralism supports the livelihoods of around one-third of its population.
Severe summer droughts followed by devastating dzud winters in 2023 and 2024 resulted in the loss of more than seven million livestock, underscoring the vulnerability of dryland communities.
Focus on drought resilience
Building on progress made at COP16 in Riyadh, governments will continue discussions on a global policy framework for drought while examining practical tools, partnerships and financing mechanisms to help countries implement national drought strategies.
Discussions will focus on preparedness, early warning systems, vulnerability assessments and international cooperation.
More than 70 countries have now developed national drought plans, compared with only three in 2013.
According to the UNCCD, every dollar invested in drought resilience can generate returns of up to US$10, while some nature-based solutions can deliver benefits of up to 27 times their cost.
COP17 will also highlight new tools and partnerships, including initiatives linked to the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, the Drought Resilience Investment Facility and the International Drought Resilience Observatory.
Bridging the land restoration finance gap
Financing land restoration and drought resilience will be a central issue at the conference.
An estimated US$355 billion is required annually to combat land degradation and drought, while current investment is only around US$77 billion, leaving an annual financing gap of approximately US$278 billion.
The private sector currently accounts for only around 6% of global finance for land restoration and drought resilience, despite its dependence on healthy land and reliable water supplies.
COP17 will explore ways to attract additional public and private capital, strengthen incentives for sustainable land management, reduce investment risks and better align investment with restoration and resilience objectives.
The Business for Land Forum, scheduled for August 24, will bring together governments, businesses and investors to accelerate private-sector investment in regenerative landscapes.
Organizations participating in the Action Agenda on Regenerative Landscapes have already committed more than US$9 billion across over 210 million hectares, according to the UNCCD.
Rangelands gain global attention
Held during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, COP17 will give special attention to rangelands, which cover about 54% of the Earth’s land surface and support the livelihoods of around two billion people.
Rangelands provide approximately one-sixth of the world’s food and around 70% of livestock feed. They also play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and the livelihoods of pastoral communities.
However, up to half of the world’s rangelands are already degraded or at risk. Around 78% of rangelands are located in drylands, where drought, climate change and unsustainable land use are intensifying pressure on ecosystems and communities.
Governments are expected to consider a new policy framework on rangelands and pastoralists and launch the Rangelands Flagship Initiative, aimed at increasing long-term investment in sustainable rangeland management and strengthening pastoral livelihoods.
The opening of COP17 also marked the conclusion of the UNCCD Silk Road Caravan, a multi-country journey across Eurasia that brought together governments, scientists, pastoralists, local communities and young people to showcase practical approaches to land restoration and drought resilience.
Four thematic days
Alongside formal negotiations, the COP17 Action Agenda will showcase practical solutions and bring together governments, financial institutions, businesses, scientists, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, local communities, women and youth.
Four thematic days are scheduled during the second week:
• Finance Day – August 24: Mobilizing investment for land restoration and drought resilience.
• Water Day – August 25: Strengthening drought resilience and cooperation on the land-water nexus.
• Land and People Day – August 26: Highlighting the role of pastoralists, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth.
• Food Systems and Soil Health Day – August 27: Promoting healthy soils and sustainable food systems.
The high-level segment will feature ministerial discussions on drought resilience, sustainable rangelands, land restoration finance, food systems, soil health, migration, security, sand and dust storms, and private-sector engagement.
Several major scientific and policy reports are also scheduled for launch during the conference, including The Economics of Rangelands Restoration, Drought in Numbers 2026, the Global Land Outlook for Small Island Developing States, and a report on Soil Health: The Business Case for Investing in Our Foundation.
COP17 is scheduled to conclude on August 28, when Parties are expected to adopt decisions that will guide the UNCCD’s work and shape the next phase of global action on land restoration and drought resilience.
