Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP11)
“A stronger UNCCD for a Land Degradation-Neutral World”

On Friday, the COP convened an open dialogue session with CSOs on the theme: “Resource mobilization to support the implementation of the UNCCD through building effective partnerships between national and international actors.”

Throughout the day and in the evening, COW, CRIC and CST contact groups continued work on draft decisions.  In the evening the CST convened for its closing session where parties adopted 9 decisions. The COP then reconvened to consider the preliminary report of the COW, and review and adopt the CST report.

Five side events took place on: sand dams to improve access to water; commercializing small-scale dryland eco-products; making the case for SLM for the public and private sector; agro-ecology – from the recognition of an alternative to fight desertification to the strategizing of implementation; and the Landscapes for People, Food and Nature Initiative.

Also taking place on Friday was an all-day round table of parliamentarians, and the Rio Convention Pavilion, which convened Ecosystem Restoration Day.