Lesotho at UNCCD COP17

Lesotho was actively represented at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, by UNCCD National Focal Point Nkuebe Lerotholi and Science and Technology Correspondent Polao Moepi. Throughout the COP, they contributed Lesotho's experience and perspectives on land degradation neutrality (LDN), data and decision support to several technical and policy discussions.

Polao Moepi presented Lesotho's work at two side events. At Conservation International's side event “Integrated Land Use Planning in Practice – Advancing Inclusive and Data-Driven Decision Support”, he presented “Building Inclusive, Spatially Explicit Decision Support for LDN in Lesotho”, highlighting the country's approach to strengthening inclusive and spatially explicit decision-making for LDN. At the GEF side event “From Data to Decisions: Leveraging GEF Global Activities to Strengthen UNCCD Reporting and Achieve Land Degradation Neutrality”, he presented “From Data to Decisions: Lesotho's Experience in Strengthening LDN Reporting and Decision Support”.

Lesotho also contributed directly to the DS4LDN launch side event, organized by WOCAT/CDE. Polao Moepi moderated the breakout discussion on mountainous areas, facilitating an exchange on the specific capacity needs and challenges of assessing land degradation and supporting LDN decision-making in mountain contexts.

Beyond the side events, Nkuebe Lerotholi delivered a statement during the CST/CRIC plenary, bringing Lesotho's perspective into the formal UNCCD process.

COP17 also provided an opportunity for Nkuebe Lerotholi, Polao Moepi and the WOCAT team to meet and discuss the next steps for DS4LDN in Lesotho. These exchanges helped connect Lesotho's active contribution at COP17 with the upcoming country-level work, with WOCAT supporting the country-led process to advance LDN assessment, reporting and inclusive decision support.