World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: History, Theme

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: It is observed every year on 17 June to spread awareness among people about the cooperation required to combat desertification and the effects of drought. Let us have a look at this year’s theme, history, and significance of the day.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: 17 June

This year the day focuses on turning degraded land into healthy land. According to Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) “Land restoration can contribute greatly to post-COVID19 economic recovery. Investing in land restoration creates jobs and generates economic benefits, and could provide livelihoods at a time when hundreds of millions of jobs are being lost“.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a unique event that reminds people in the world that land degradation neutrality can be achieved when there will be cooperation at all levels, strong involvement of the community, and problem-solving. The day also celebrates the progress made by the countries on sustainable land management and what should be done in the world so that land degradation neutrality will provide a solid basis for poverty reduction, food, water security, climate change, mitigation and adaptation.

What is Desertification?

Desertification is the degradation of land in various areas like arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid. Primarily, it is caused by human activities and then by climatic variations. It does not mean an expansion of existing deserts but it is caused due to dryland ecosystems, deforestation, overgrazing, bad irrigation practices etc. which affects the productivity of the land.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: Theme

History:

Since 1995 the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed on 17 June. As, in 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared 17 June as “The World Day to Combat Desertification” to raise public awareness about the issue and implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification especially in those areas which are experiencing serious drought or desertification.

Key Issues:

• Land and Drought: According to UN, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity by 2025, and 2/3 of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions.
• Land and Human Security: 135 million people by 2045 may be displaced due to desertification.
• Land and Climate: To store up to 3 billion tons of carbon annually, restoration of the soils of degraded ecosystems is required.

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What are the goals of Desertification and Sustainable Development?

The Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030 declares that “we are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations”. Specifically, Goal 15 states our resolve to halt and reverse land degradation.

So, we can say that World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is an event to educate the public related to the issues of combating desertification and drought. This day also addresses problems caused due to drought and desertification.