WFO representatives took part in UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, contributing to discussions on farmers’ participation, land and water management, and accessible soil data, and highlighting farmers’ role in land restoration.

The World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) took part in the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026 under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.”

WFO was represented by Jesse Schevel, Manager for Strategy, Public and Government Affairs at LTO Nederland, and Professor Paolo D’Odorico, a member of the WFO Scientific Council from the University of California, Berkeley.

What COP17 Decided

COP17 concluded with the adoption of 34 decisions, including on land tenure, rangelands and pastoralists, sand and dust storms, capacity-building, resource mobilisation and the future functioning of the Science-Policy Interface. However, Parties did not reach substantive agreement on drought, migration, aridity and knowledge sharing. Discussions on gender, civil society participation and synergies with other multilateral conventions were deferred to COP18.

Land tenure was one of the areas where Parties reached agreement. Among the decisions most relevant to farmers, COP17:

• encouraged Parties to continue integrating relevant land tenure considerations into their plans and activities to combat desertification, land degradation and drought,
• invited developed country Parties and other relevant actors, including UN entities, international financial organisations and private sector institutions, to support the design and implementation of land tenure administration systems and national consultations for integrating land tenure into Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) initiatives, taking into account the FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security,
• invited Parties to improve their understanding of the differentiated impacts of land tenure insecurity by collecting disaggregated data and developing corresponding indicators, as appropriate.

This is also a policy priority for WFO. The WFO Policy on Land Use and Land Tenure, adopted by the General Assembly in June 2026, calls for secure tenure, responsible land governance, the protection of farmers’ land rights and balanced land-use planning. It also affirms farmers’ right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent in decisions affecting their land.

Beyond land tenure, COP17 adopted decisions on agricultural lands and soils, encouraging Parties to prioritise avoiding and reducing degradation before restoring damaged land; on rangelands and pastoralists, calling for stronger policies, tenure security and support for the Rangelands Flagship Initiative; and on the future work of the Science-Policy Interface, which provides scientific information and advice to support implementation of the Convention.

WFO Contributions at COP17

Soil data and evidence were another focus of the Conference. Professor D’Odorico participated in the side event “Soil Data and Evidence for Land Restoration“, organised by the Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH). The session explored how accessible and harmonised soil data can support decisions by farmers and land managers, as well as policymaking, national reporting and investment in land restoration.

©CA4SH

D’Odorico said soil data should be available in formats and through platforms that farmers can use. He also pointed to the role farmers can play in citizen science.

Farmers‘ participation in land-related decision-making was at the centre of Schevel’s contributions at COP17. In the side event “The Soil Nexus: Bridging Economic Viability, Sustainability, and Food Security through Farmer-Led Stewardship“, co-organised by Save Soil and the UNCCD CSO Panel, Schevel emphasised the importance of farmers’ direct engagement in UNCCD negotiations. He noted that the Conference focuses primarily on land and that farmers, as its principal custodians worldwide, should have a direct seat at the table.

During COP17 Water Day, Schevel also joined the High-Level Event “Land Restoration for Water Resilience“, organised by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The panel brought together ministers and senior representatives from national governments, UNCCD, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Bank Group.

Drawing on his experience as a young dairy farmer working on wetlands in the Netherlands, Schevel pointed out the importance of fertile land for farmers and the close relationship between land and water. He noted that water supply, efforts to reduce land degradation, biodiversity restoration and climate mitigation are interconnected and, for farmers, converge on the farm.

Schevel described water resilience as a cornerstone of drought adaptation and sustainable land use. He also stressed that maintaining and improving land fertility requires a local approach, as soil and land uses differ, as do farms, regions, local conditions and climates. An approach that works in one place may therefore not be suitable elsewhere.

He also addressed the consequences that land restoration and sustainable water management measures can have for farmers. While these activities provide public services, they may also mean that farmers can grow less on their land or allow their livestock to graze for fewer days.

When farmers are asked to make such choices for the wider benefit of society, Schevel argued that they should be rewarded for these services over the long term. He identified this recognition as essential for farmers to remain active partners in restoring and maintaining fertile land for future generations.

With drought, migration and civil society participation still pending, UNCCD COP18 — set to take place in Egypt in 2028 — will offer the next opportunity to keep farmers’ voices in these discussions. WFO will continue working to ensure farmers have a seat at that table too.

Cover photo: ©UNCCD/Kiara Worth