Bonn, Germany (17 June 2021) – The Global Landscapes Forum has been awarded a Special Mention of the 2021 Land for Life Award by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for its efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive landscapes.
The Special Mention is a recognition by Ibrahim Thiaw, the UNCCD Executive Secretary, and is given to an exceptional individual or organization for carrying out innovative work on land restoration and conservation that promotes the well-being of communities and improves their relationship with nature. This year’s theme is ‘Healthy Land, Healthy Lives.’
“The Global Landscapes Forum is honored by this recognition from UNCCD,” said Robert Nasi, Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), which leads the GLF together in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank and Charter Members.
“Land degradation and desertification is a multi-faceted problem where single-sectoral approaches won’t work. By working together across sectors and regions, we can restore the balance between people, animals, and the environment to sustain productivity in these ecosystems, while supporting the aspirations of the next generation. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with UNCCD to restore and protect the biodiversity and livelihoods of the world’s drylands.”
The Global Landscapes Forum recently hosted GLF Africa, a fully-online event that brought together thousands of participants from 186 countries to address the urgent need to rapidly increase and improve efforts to restore the world’s drylands. Featuring 47 sessions, the release of 12 white papers, and several major launches, the conference provided critical insights on dryland restoration for policymakers ahead of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
The GLFx initiative is now accepting applications for a seed fund in partnership with the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Five new local chapters in the greater Sahel region will be selected to receive funding of EUR 5,000 each, as well as technical support and training. GLFx is a global network led by the Global Landscapes Forum designed to foster restoration action on the ground. Local chapters have been established across the globe, from Cape Town to Veracruz in Mexico.
This year’s Land for Life Award was won by Familial Forestry of Rajasthan, India. The award ceremony will take place in August at the eighth Kubuqi International Desert Forum in China.
For more information, please contact Melissa Angel, GLF Communications Coordinator.
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