The Republic of Colombia will host the 2025 global observance of Desertification and Drought Day on June 17, underscoring its growing commitment to tackling land degradation through nature-based solutions and people-centred approaches.
Scheduled to take place in Bogotá, the event is set to draw worldwide attention to the urgent need to scale up land restoration as a catalyst for sustainability, peace, and inclusive development. The observance will be held as part of the Global Land Forum, also hosted by the Government of Colombia, bringing together decision-makers, grassroots actors and land experts from around the world.
Under the theme “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities,” the 2025 celebration will emphasise the vital role that healthy land plays in delivering food, water, jobs and security to communities. Colombia’s choice to host the global event reflects its national resolve to restore degraded land at scale and to ensure that restoration efforts lead to tangible improvements in people’s lives and the ecosystems they depend on.
Executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Ibrahim Thiaw remarked: “Land degradation is far more than just an environmental issue – it directly threatens our health, our food and water security and the overall stability of societies. When we lose healthy land, we weaken nutrition, raise the risk of disease and leave communities more vulnerable to climate and economic shocks. I commend Colombia for hosting this year’s observance. It offers a powerful opportunity to demonstrate how restoring land can safeguard nature, enhance well-being, and help build a resilient, more equitable future.”
Highlighting the inseparable link between land, food and peace, Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Martha Villegas stressed the urgency of protecting agricultural soils. “Soil is life. The protection of agricultural land has become an imperative in the face of mounting crises – biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, hunger, poverty and displacement. This year’s observance reaffirms our belief that protecting soil means protecting life,” she said.
Villegas emphasised that Colombia’s response is built on three interconnected pillars: soil conservation and restoration; sustainable, fair, and resilient agri-food systems; and improved quality of life in both rural and urban communities. “Without fertile soil, there is no food. Without food, there is no peace,” she said.
“We are implementing comprehensive policies that include equitable land redistribution, restoring the rights of historically marginalized communities, and guaranteeing sustainable resource management. In doing so, we transform the land into a shield against hunger, a bridge toward reconciliation, and a legacy of dignity for generations to come. Land is not just a resource – it is the foundation of peace,” she added.
Colombia faces a serious challenge: nearly 30 percent of its national territory – around 34.39 million hectares – is affected by land degradation. Yet the country is stepping up with bold goals. By 2030, it aims to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded land, conserve 22,000 hectares of dry forest, expand sustainable agroforestry systems, and support rural communities through targeted planning and restoration initiatives in key regions.
In hosting the 2025 observance, Colombia is also creating a platform for dialogue and innovation. Youth, Indigenous peoples, farmers, scientists, and civil society groups will have the opportunity to share local knowledge and grassroots solutions that contribute to the broader global restoration agenda.
Colombia’s leadership is part of a wider global recognition that land restoration is crucial to solving today’s interconnected challenges – from climate change and biodiversity loss to rising food insecurity and forced migration. Although momentum is growing, including at the upcoming UNCCD COP16, the value of healthy land remains underappreciated. Land degradation, drought, and desertification currently cost the global economy an estimated US$878 billion every year. By contrast, restoring just over one billion hectares could generate up to US$1.8 trillion annually, with each dollar invested yielding a return of between US$7 and US$30 in economic benefits.
“The economic case for restoration is undeniable,” Thiaw said. “But beyond the numbers, restoring land is about protecting dignity, securing long-term access to food and water, and ensuring a more stable and just world. Colombia is showing what’s possible when land restoration becomes a national priority.”
