Preserving our common ground: UNCCD ten years on

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) plays a key role in the world’s efforts to eradicate poverty, achieve sustainable development and reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is the only internationally recognized legally binding instrument that addresses the problem of land degradation in dryland rural areas. It enjoys a truly universal membership of 191 parties. And,through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as its funding mechanism, it is able to channel much-needed resources to projects aimed at combating the problem, particularly in Africa.