WOCAT

WOCAT and partners are inviting participants to the upcoming Training of Instructors (ToI) workshop for Southeast Asia! This virtual event will take place from November 25 to 29, 2024 and is part of the G20 GLI "Trigger Change! Innovative Sustainable Agriculture Solutions for Land Restoration" course. The workshop empowers instructors with essential tools, knowledge, and networking opportunities to bring SLM and land restoration education into their classrooms. Attendees will have the chance to explore interactive modules, hear from global experts, and engage in virtual field experiences that illustrate transformative SLM practices in action.

More information and course material available here.

The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the UNCCD will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2-13 December 2024. The UNCCD is the world’s foremost platform for governments, businesses and civil society to come together and to discuss present-day challenges and chart a sustainable future for land. This year's COP will coincide with the Convention's 30th anniversary. WOCAT and partners will be present and will be announcing their contributions to sessions and side events soon. Stay tuned!

The UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference Baku - COP29 is carrying on, from 11 to 22 November.

The COP29 will be the venue for the commitment towards the multilateral climate system underway since the Pars Agreement to be tested, with a focus on climate finance goal, meaning negotiating realistic goals for what the public sector can directly provide and mobilise. Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices have the potential to mitigate climate change cost-effectively in numerous ways, fostering opportunities for environmentally sound circular economies to sprout.

WOCAT and UNICEF jointly conducted a training program for young leaders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on “Leadership and Advocacy for a Sustainable Environment,” in preparation for the upcoming UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WOCAT provided participants with an in-depth understanding of land systems and their interconnectedness with climate change and poverty, the increasing and complex threat of land degradation, and the principles of SLM to combat land degradation, desertification and droughts.

A “Training on the use of Colombia LDN DSS to Support Land use Planning Processes" was held in Popayan, Colombia, organized by the Ministerio de Ambiente de Colombia, GEO-LDN, ASOPATÍA, Universidad del Cauca and WOCAT. The workshop aimed to build capacity for effective land-use planning and conservation using the Colombia LDN Decision Support System (DSS) tool. Participants included government representatives from municipalities in the Alto Patía region, faculty and students from Universidad del Cauca, National Parks officials, and ASOPATÍA members.

WOCAT, it's consortium partner Centre for Development and Environment and the UNCCD launched a new publication that shares insights and methodologies from 30 countries that contributed to improving land degradation and drought reporting. The publication will debut further at UNCCD COP 16 in Riyadh, during a side event co-hosted by WOCAT and the UNCCD on December 6, 2024. Representatives from featured countries will discuss best practices and lessons learned, showcasing replicable methods for future reporting.

The G20 Global Land Initiative developped a new course: Trigger Change! Innovative Sustainable Agriculture Solutions for Land Restoration: A Resource for University Professors. Released in April 2024, this new course targets university students and training institution participants worldwide enrolled in agriculture and related programs. The course is structured into five modules, spanning 48 hours of in-class instruction. Each module delves into innovations in sustainable agriculture for land restoration, providing a comprehensive learning experience for students.