Local and regional governments must play a stronger role in combating land degradation, desertification and drought, as global commitments increasingly need to be translated into action at the community level, according to ‘the Ulaanbaatar Declaration' adopted by mayors and other local leaders.
About 30 mayors, governors and local and regional leaders gathered at the UNCCD COP17 Mayors' Forum in Mongolia's capital this week and endorsed the declaration, calling for a stronger and more permanent role for cities and regions in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) process.
The three-day forum, scheduled for August 20-22, has brought together more than 200 participants from over 30 countries, including local government leaders, international organisations, financial institutions, researchers and private-sector representatives.
The declaration, titled 'Local Leadership for Land Resilience: Advancing Implementation across the Rio Conventions', seeks to move local governments from political recognition to sustained implementation of global commitments on land, water, biodiversity and climate resilience, said a UNCCD release.
The declaration sets out five major calls to action.
These include integrated local action on sustainable land management, drought resilience, biodiversity, climate resilience, water security and sustainable urban development, while strengthening links between urban and rural areas.
UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad said national commitments could set the direction, but implementation ultimately takes place in cities, regions and communities.
She said local governments make critical decisions on land and water management, drought preparedness, climate-related risks and resilient infrastructure, making their experience and proximity to communities essential for delivering measurable results.
Ulaanbaatar Governor and Mayor B Purevdagva said land resilience was directly linked to whether cities could provide safe water, clean air, green spaces and secure livelihoods.
The declaration also commits signatories to promoting inclusive approaches involving communities, youth, women and Indigenous Peoples, while reaffirming the Riyadh Process as a platform for dialogue between the UNCCD, its parties and organised local and regional governments.
The forum builds on nearly three decades of municipal cooperation on desertification, beginning with the World Forum of Mayors on Cities and Desertification in Bonn in 1999. Similar forums were subsequently held in Rome, Ordos and Riyadh.
Meanwhile, the declaration also calls for more structured and regular participation of local and regional governments in the UNCCD process, building on the Riyadh Process.
It urges greater coordination among the three Rio Conventions and the global water agenda, as well as stronger partnerships and financing mechanisms.
In particular, the leaders called for more direct, simplified and predictable access to finance for local and regional governments to implement resilience and land-restoration initiatives.
The declaration also places emphasis on knowledge sharing, innovation and cooperation, including peer learning and nature-based solutions.
A key outcome of the forum was the launch of the Ulaanbaatar Initiative, a voluntary effort led by the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar to test practical ways for cities to measure and report land degradation.
The results are expected to be shared with the UNCCD by COP18.
