International Institute for Sustainable Development - Reporting Services (IISD RS) @ Eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP 8), 3-14 September 2007, Madrid, Spain

Eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP 8)

3-14 September 2007 | Madrid, Spain

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The Crown Prince and Princess of Spain entering the Palacio de Congresos for the welcoming ceremony.

Highlights for Monday, 3 September 2007

The eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 8) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) opened at the Palacio de Congresos in Madrid, Spain, on Monday, 3 September 2007.

Following a welcoming ceremony under the aegis of the Crown Prince and Princess of Spain, the first plenary meeting of the two-week session heard opening statements from representatives of regional groups, UN agencies and organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

Welcoming Ceremony

Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, Mayor of Madrid, addresses the audience during the opening ceremony.


Felipe de Borbón, Crown Prince of Spain, detailed Spain’s longstanding efforts to combat land degradation.	Cristina Narbona, Minister for the Environment of Spain, committed to further support affected countries in their efforts in combating desertification.	Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, Mayor of Madrid, elaborated the city’s model to combat desertification.
	Left: David Mwiraria, Kenya, President of COP 7, paid tribute to Hama Arba Diallo, former Executive Secretary.
	Right: Grégoire de Kalbermatten, the Convention Secretariat’s Officer-in-Charge, welcomed the Crown Prince and Princess of Spain, and said COP 8 is a defining moment in the UNCCD’s evolution.

A bird's eye view of the welcoming ceremony.

Photographers surrounding the Crown Prince and Princess.

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Plenary Session


Cristina Narbona, Minister for the Environment of Spain and David Mwiraria, President of COP 7.	Grégoire de Kalbermatten, Officer-in-Charge, Secretariat of the UNCCD.


Francisco Castro Rego, Portugal, on behalf of the European Union, Turkey and Croatia, noted that the COP is at a decisive phase and that its institutional framework must be determined.	Farrukh Khan, Pakistan, on behalf of the G-77/China, appealed to developed countries to fulfill their obligations by providing adequate financial resources to developing countries.	Uladzimir Sauchanka, Belarus, on behalf of Central and Eastern Europe, stated his region’s support of the ten-year strategic plan and highlighted the need for significant financial resources.

Stephen Muwaya, Uganda, on behalf of the African Group, expressed his region’s hope that all parties will work together cordially to achieve a successful outcome.	Luis Eduardo Molinas Belén, Paraguay, for the Latin America and Caribbean Group, suggested strengthening the CST, CRIC and regional programmes.	Kyaw Htun, Myanmar, on behalf of Asia and the Pacific, stated that the ten-year strategic plan “opens a way for renewed commitment among stakeholders.”

Germán Rojas, Food and Agriculture Organization, suggested measures to improve integration with government development programmes.	Celia Barbero Sierra, Fundación IPADE, Spain, appealed to donors to contribute new and additional financial resources.	M.V.K. Sivakumar, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), reported on a WMO-organized meeting in 2006 on climate and desertification.