High-level symposium on land degradation neutrality at the third International Conference on Financing for Development

UNU-LRT participated in a high-level symposium on land degradation neutrality at the third International Conference on Financing for Development, which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 13-16 July. The symposium was hosted by the Governments of Iceland and Namibia (on behalf of the Group of Friends on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought) in cooperation with the State of Qatar, United Nations University, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) secretariat, UNDP and Biovision.

At the symposium, Dr Hafdis Hanna Aegisdottir (UNU-LRT Director) and Mr Mulugeta Sebhatleab, former UNU-LRT fellow and lecturer at Mekelle University in Ethiopia, gave talks and sat on the expert panel. Dr Aegisdottir focused on the importance of capacity building and leadership training in ecological restoration and sustainable land management in order to achieve a land degradation neutral world. Mr Sebhatleab talked about land restoration challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia and stressed the importance of farmers’ participation (both women and men) in land restoration activities. Moreover, he emphasised the importance of training opportunities for gaining experiences and sharing ideas.

Furthermore, Mr Simone Quatrini from the UNCCD Global Mechanism, Dr Hans R. Herren, president and CEO of the Millennium Institute and president of Biovision and Ms Alice Ruhweza from UNDP sat on the expert panel.

Photo: Hafdis Hanna Aegisdottir and Mulugeta Sebhatleab at the conference.