The COP15 against deforestation opens Monday in Abidjan in the presence of several heads of state, to try to act concretely in the face of rapid land degradation and its harmful consequences for biodiversity and populations.
Less known than its “big sister” on the climate, this 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), addresses issues that are just as crucial at a time when the UN estimates that 40% of land is degraded worldwide.
Nine African heads of state, including Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi and Togolese Faure Gnassingbé are expected around Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will take part in the debates by videoconference.
They will try to agree on concrete measures to stop the increase in desertification.
The theme of this event “Lands. Life. Heritage: From a precarious world to a prosperous future” is “a call to action to ensure that the land, which is our source of life on this planet, continues to benefit present and future generations,” the UNCCD said in a statement.
“The Conference will pay particular attention to the restoration of one billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, the sustainability of land use in the face of the impacts of climate change and the fight against the increase in disaster risks. such as droughts, sand and dust storms and forest fires”, specifies the UN institution.
The African continent is particularly affected by desertification, particularly in its Sahelian strip.
The question of the Great Green Wall, a pharaonic project which aims to restore one hundred million hectares of arid land in Africa by 2030 on a strip of 8,000 km from Senegal to Djibouti, should in particular be addressed during the work which will take place. will end on May 20.