PURPOSE : Drought is one of the most destructive natural disasters in terms of the loss of life arising from impacts, such as widescale crop failure, wildfires and water stress. Exacerbated by land degradation and climate change, droughts are increasing in frequency and severity, up 29% since 2000, with 55 million people affected every year. By 2050, droughts may affect an estimated three-quarters of the world’s population. It’s a global and urgent issue. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a United Nations observance celebrated each year on 17 June. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the presence of desertification and drought, highlighting methods of preventing desertification and recovering from drought.
FORUM: ''Restore the Land. Unlock the opportunities." World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025. This year’s Desertification and Drought Day focuses on one of the most urgent global challenges: restoring 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land and jumpstarting a trillion-dollar land restoration economy by 2030. More than half of global GDP relies on healthy ecosystems. Yet each year, an area the size of Egypt is degraded, driving biodiversity loss, increasing drought risk and displacing communities. The ripple effects are global—from rising food prices to instability and migration. But restoring land flips the script. Every dollar invested in restoration generates US$7 to US$30 in returns. Reviving land restores productivity, strengthens water cycles and supports millions of rural livelihoods. As we reach the midpoint of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), action is more urgent than ever. To meet global goals, 1.5 billion hectares must be restored by 2030. So far, 1 billion hectares have been pledged through initiatives like the G20 Global Land Restoration Initiative and the Great Green Wall Initiative. Now is the time to turn ambition into action.The financial case is clear, but action must follow. According to UNCCD Global Mechanism, the world needs to invest US$1 billion every day between 2025 and 2030 to stop and reverse land degradation. Current investments fall short at USD66 billion annually, with only 6% coming from the private sector. We need to scale up ambition and investment by both governments and businesses. This means unlocking new finance, creating decent jobs, embracing innovation and making the most of traditional knowledge. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #DesertificationAndDrought, #Drought, , #17june, #DesertificationDay.
EVENTS; On June 17th, Under the theme "Restore the land. Unlock the оpportunities," the2025 observancewillshine a light on how restoring nature’s foundation—land—can create jobs, boost food and water security, support climate action and build economic resilience. Events take place worldwide. The Republic of Colombia will host this year’s global observance of Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June, highlighting the country’s commitment to tackling land degradation through nature-based solutions. Taking place in Bogotá, the event will draw global attention to the urgent need to scale up land restoration as a catalyst for sustainability, peace, and inclusive development. The global observance will be part of the Global Land Forum, hosted by the Government of Colombia.Colombia’s decision to host the global event reflects its determination to restore land at scale and ensure that restoration efforts directly improve livelihoods and ecosystems. Faced with the serious challenge of land degradation — affecting nearly 30 per cent of its territory, or 34.39 million hectares — Colombia is stepping up with bold action. By 2030, it aims to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded land, conserve 22,000 hectares of dry forest, expand sustainable agroforestry systems, and support rural communities through targeted restoration and planning initiatives across priority regions. In hosting the observance, the country is also opening a platform for youth, Indigenous peoples, farmers, scientists and civil society to share local solutions that contribute to global goals. Colombia’s efforts reflect a broader global imperative: restoring land is essential to meeting today’s urgent challenges — from climate change and biodiversity loss to food insecurity and forced migration. Despite increasing momentum, including at UNCCD COP16, the true value of healthy land remains underestimated. Land degradation, drought and desertification cost the global economy an estimated US$878 billion each year. Meanwhile, restoring over one billion hectares of degraded land could generate up to US$1.8 trillion annually, with each dollar invested returning between US$7-US$30 in economic benefits. Yet the pace and scale of restoration remain far below what is needed. Colombia will welcome global leaders, experts, youth, and representatives from across society for the official celebration in Bogotá. Countries around the world are mobilizing to mark World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025 with an array of educational, cultural and sporting activities to restore the land—and unlock the opportunities for a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future. Explore the events worldwide and Register to participate!
Worldwide celebrations: View the calendar of upcoming meetings and Explore the map of events!
PUBLICATION: Economics of drought — investing in nature-based solutions for drought resilience. As droughts fueled by human destruction of the environment are projected to affect three in four people by 2050, investing in sustainable land and water management is essential. Read the full publication!
STATEMENTS
PODCASTS: Talking About the Convention, the UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework and how to use the Drought Toolbox. Examples of stories and case studies from around the world demonstrate how the recognition of land rights has sparked signifcant investments in long-term land and soil conservation. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: The future of our land is at stake. Desertification, land degradation, and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with up to 40% of all land area worldwide already considered degraded. The UNCCD’s campaign materials like action toolkit are available; Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
The General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management, and declared 17 June "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" by its resolution A/RES/49/115.
Droughts have always been a part of nature and the human experience but are now much worse largely due to human activity. Hardly any country is immune to drought, but all countries can prepare better to tackle drought effectively. Drought is daunting, as its effects on people’s lives and livelihoods are devastating. But through ingenuity, commitment and solidarity, it can be addressed successfully. Tools are available to assess drought risk. Solutions exist to ensure lives and livelihoods are no longer lost to drought.
In 2007, the UN General Assembly declared 2010-2020 as United Nations Decade for Deserts and the fight against Desertification to mobilize global action to fight land degradation, led again by the UNCCD Secretariat.
UNCCD's 197 parties (169 affected by desertification) work together to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought in drylands — the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
Since 2017, the UNCCD and its partners supported about 70 drought-prone countries to develop national action plans to reduce drought disasters.
ACTIONS
Action can be taken at all levels, from citizens, businesses, governments and UN partners, everyone can come on board and lend a helping hand to rise up from drought together. Everyone can participate in actions that increase our collective resilience because every action counts.
As an individual, engage in the #Droughtland Campaign. Share, expand and grow your influence on- and off-line to promote sound water management and drought impact mitigation
Support communities to tackle drought head on. No amount of early warning will work without action to protect the most vulnerable
Set up drought insurance programmes; establish food banks; build capacity and campaign for water-efficient food production.
Regenerate your land. If it is healthy, land is natural storage for fresh water. If it is degraded, it is not. Plant and consume drought-tolerant crops. Irrigate efficiently. Recycle and reuse of water. Reduce water evaporation and soil erosion. Mix food sources.
Engage with schools. Educate, communicate and activate through children and the youth. Investigate and disseminate practical drought resilience ideas and inform local communities about the most appropriate actions for their soil and land types for instance.
Invest in projects that promote solar-powered water pumps and rainwater harvesting for drought-prone communities.
Share your Stories about drought risks and resilience with the world.
PARTNERSHIPS
The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); The UNDP-Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification; The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); The International Food and Research Development (IFAD).
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will reaffirm its commitment to gender equality with these objectives:
Raise awareness of the disproportionate impact of desertification, land degradation and drought on women and girls and the barriers they face in decision-making on land issues;
Highlight women’s contributions to sustainable land management and broader SDGs;
Mobilize global support to advance land rights for women and girls around the world.
The UNCCD is therefore calling on all members of the global community to treat the land as a limited and precious natural capital, prioritize its health in the pandemic recovery and push hard to restore the land during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Everyone has a role to play because everyone has a stake in the future.