Engage in constructive and inclusionary debate to strengthen the fight against desertification, civil society organisations (CSOs) urged yesterday at the 12th conference of parties (COP12) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ankara, Turkey.
Speakers said letting go of preconceived notions about the private sector and civil society would allow the UNCCD to stand out as a pioneering convention in terms including civil society in its processes.
They called on civil society at large to play the role of watchdog over the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund (LDNF), at COP12’s first Open Dialogue Session titled “Demystifying the LDN with CSO Contributions.”
CSO representatives reiterated the need for a proposed ethics advisory committee for the LDNF, and considered whether it should have veto powers.
Jonathan Davies of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in his keynote address, critiqued the idea of Land Degradation Neutrality and pointed out some of the challenges that face the global community in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers representing CSOs said there was a discrepancy between civil society groups and parties to the convention in the integration of implementation processes.
Regional CSO speakers reflected on the vast array of diverse and effective initiatives being used to conserve soil, preserve ecosystems and provide sustainable livelihoods for land-using communities.
They highlighted initiatives developed by civil society in partnership with researchers, students, governments and other stakeholders in generating reliable data on land degradation and neutrality.