UNCCD COP17 – Family farming at the heart of land restoration: Scaling farmer-led solutions to land degradation and drought and fostering rural development

UNCCD COP17
Family farming at the heart of land restoration: Scaling farmer-led solutions to land degradation and drought and fostering rural development
27 August | 15:00 – 16:30 | MET-01

Event Description

As land degradation accelerates and drought threatens the livelihoods of millions, family farmers, who manage over 80% of the world’s agricultural land, are too often seen as beneficiaries rather than key solution providers.

Organised by WRF and supported by FFF, this event brings family farming voices to the centre of the land degradation and drought debate. The session draws on the UN Decade of Family Farming and collaborative initiatives supporting producer organisations to explore how to accelerate locally-led solutions.

Three priorities frame the discussion: recognition of family farmers in UNCCD processes; improved policies and enabling environments, including securing land tenure; and direct access to finance tailored to their realities.

Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, the event will elevate family farmers, including women, youth and pastoralist voices, as land managers, knowledge holders and economic actors.

Joined by government champions and international agencies, they will share what solutions look like from the ground up—from agroecology and sustainable land management to climate resilience and inclusive value chains—and what is needed to scale them.

This session will deliver concrete recommendations to inform UNCCD negotiations and implementation of the Riyadh Action Agenda.

Speakers

• Mr. Cristian Barrazueta – Head of Climate and Biodiversity, WRF (Moderator)
• Ms. Mayani Saino – Deputy Director for Multilateral Environmental Agreements, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Kenya
• Mr. André Bordinhon – Research and Innovation Coordinator, Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, Brazil
• Ms. Rim Ferchichi – Secretary General, Union Maghrébine et de l’Afrique du Nord des Agriculteurs (UMNAGRI), Tunisia
• Ms. Cécile Ndjebet – President and Founder, African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests (REFACOF)
• Mr. Toolos Bostonbaev – Programme Coordinator, National Union of Water Users Associations (NUWUA), Kyrgyz Republic
• Ms. Sandra Paula – Environment Coordinator, CONTAG, Brazil
• Ms. Pascale Bonzom – Head of Agricultural Systems Team, IUCN