World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

The health of the land is tied to the health of everything else: our food systems, climate, biodiversity, water resources, and societies. But we often forget this connection with the land until the soil beneath us turns dry, cracked, and barren. 

Observed every June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was established in 1994 by the UN General Assembly to raise awareness about land degradation, with the first observance held in 1995.

Understanding Desertification and Drought

Desertification does not mean the spread of deserts; it means the degradation of the land that was once fertile. It results from soil being barren due to deforestation, overgrazing, unsustainable farming practices, climate change, and poor water management. The land becomes less able to support crops, vegetation, and life. As the topsoil erodes or dries out, entire ecosystems collapse, and communities are forced to abandon their lands.

Drought, on the other hand, is the prolonged absence of adequate rainfall. While droughts are natural events, they are becoming more frequent, longer, and more intense due to global warming. Droughts amplify the impacts of land degradation, leading to crop failure, livestock loss, forest dieback, and increasing water scarcity.

Together, desertification and drought pose a risk to the survival of millions of people, particularly in vulnerable regions where communities directly depend on natural resources for survival.

The Global Picture

According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), over 100 countries are gravely affected by land degradation. More than 3.2 billion people are affected by degraded land, and that figure is on the rise. Up to 40% of the world’s land is already degraded, affecting food systems, economies, and migration patterns. It is believed that by 2050, if current trends continue, an additional 50 million people could be displaced due to desertification.

Why This Day Matters More Than Ever

In the face of climate emergencies, water crises, and food insecurity, a healthy land is our strongest line of defense. But restoration does not happen overnight. It requires long-term vision, inclusive policies, scientific research, and most importantly, community participation.

This day is a chance to:

• Raise global and local awareness about land degradation and drought risks
• Mobilize political will and funding toward restoration projects
• Share success stories and traditional knowledge from around the world
• Empower farmers, women, youth, and Indigenous peoples as land stewards

What Can Be Done?

Combating desertification and drought requires coordinated action at all levels. Here are some key approaches:

• Sustainable land management: Crop rotation, agroforestry, organic farming, and conservation tillage can preserve soil quality.
• Reforestation and afforestation: Planting trees and conserving forests prevent erosion, regulate water cycles, and capture carbon.
• Water management: Drip irrigation, water harvesting, and restoration of wetlands reduce drought vulnerability.
• Policy and education: Governments must integrate land restoration into climate and development policies. Public awareness and education, environmental education, and farmer training are essential.
• Community engagement: Solutions must come from the ground up. Locally-led initiatives are most likely to be effective and sustainable.

Our Responsibility

The land doesn’t just belong to farmers or environmentalists. It belongs to all of us. Whether we live in cities, mountains, forests, or coasts, we depend on healthy soil, clean water, and stable ecosystems to survive and thrive.

On World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, we are called not only to reflect but also to act. This is not a distant problem. It’s here. It’s now. And it can be solved if we come together and restore what can be lost.