Desertification and Drought Day 2025 to be held in Colombia

By 2050, more than three-quarters of the world’s population is expected to be affected by droughts

Bonn: 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.

Under the theme “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities,” the 2025 observance will emphasize the critical role of healthy land in providing food, water, jobs, and security.

Countries have promised to restore one billion hectares of land by 2030, current trends suggest 1.5 billion hectares would need to be restored to meet the 2030 land degradation neutrality goals.

As per UN report up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is already degraded, directly affecting half of humanity, and an estimated 3.2 billion people worldwide are negatively impacted by desertification. By 2050, more than three-quarters of the world’s population is expected to be affected by droughts.

According to the latest financial needs assessment by UNCCD’s Global Mechanism, the world needs US$ 1 billion daily to combat desertification, land degradation and drought between 2025 and 2030. Current investments in land restoration and drought resilience stand at US$ 66 billion annually, with the private sector contributing just six per cent.

Speaking on the emerging challenges, Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), said, “Land degradation is more than just an environmental issue it is a direct threat to our health, food and water security, and the stability of societies. When we lose healthy land, we weaken nutrition, increase the risk of disease, and expose communities to climate and economic shocks. I thank the Republic of Colombia for its invitation to host 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 for all.”

Highlighting the urgent need for sustainable land use and the vital connection between soil and peace, Martha Viviana Carvajalino Villegas, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia, stated: “The protection of agricultural soils and land is an urgent imperative in the face of interconnected crises threatening our survival: biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, hunger, poverty, and displacement.

“We implement comprehensive policies: equitable land redistribution, restitution of rights to historically marginalized communities, and guarantees for sustainable resource management. In this way, we transform the soil into a shield against hunger, a bridge towards reconciliation, and a legacy of dignity for future generations. Land is not just a resource: it is the foundation of peace”, she added.

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.