A female farmer smiles to camera and in a blurry background a group of other female farmers working on the land
A UN Project in collaboration with the Korea Forest Service is empowering local farmers in Ethiopia to restore their land, secure sustainable incomes, and combat climate change.
Photo:UNCCD

Restore the land. Unlock the opportunities

Healthy land underpins thriving economies, with over half of global GDP dependent on nature. Yet we are depleting this natural capital at an alarming rate: every minute, the equivalent of four football fields is lost due to land degradation.

This drives biodiversity loss, increasing drought risk and displacing communities. The ripple effects are global—from rising food prices to instability and migration.

Desertification, land degradation, and drought are among the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with up to 40% of all land area worldwide already considered degraded.

As the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 marks its halfway point, we must accelerate efforts to turn the tide of land degradation into large-scale restoration. If current trends continue, we will need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land and jumpstart a trillion-dollar land restoration economy by 2030.

Under the theme "Restore the land. Unlock the оpportunities", the 2025 observance shines a light on how restoring nature’s foundation—land—can create jobs, boost food and water security, support climate action and build economic resilience.

Now is the time to turn ambition into action.

Soil cracked by drought

Download the digital materials

Learn more about the Day and access the campaign materials in several languages: social media cards, banners, proposed messages and other content to support the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, which leads this year’s observance. Hosting an event to mark the Day? Add it to the virtual map of events around the world.

Did you know?

  • Every second, an equivalent of four football fields of healthy land becomes degraded.
  • Each USD invested in land restoration can yield up to 30 USD in return. In many countries affected by desertification, land degradation and drought, agriculture represents a high share of economic revenue.
  • Conservation agriculture can cut crop water needs by up to 30% during droughts.
source: UNCCD

UN event: "Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities" June 17, 2025

The Republic of Colombia will host this year’s global observance of Desertification and Drought Day on 17 June, underscoring its commitment to addressing land degradation through nature-based solutions. Held in Bogotá, the event will spotlight the urgent need to scale up land restoration as a catalyst for sustainability, peace and inclusive development, while emphasizing the vital role of healthy land in ensuring food, water, jobs and security.

A woman stands in front of a tent and barb wire

Maryam is facing a new reality; it is a far cry from her life as an agro-pastoralist just a few months before. The drought in Somalia, which began in late 2020, has only been deepening, so she made a difficult decision… FAO provides cash transfers, livelihood assets and other support to people in their villages, giving them the option to stay.

More stories
Mongolian landscape with mountains in the background

This crucial global forum - COP17 to combat desertification - will drive solutions for land restoration, sustainable land management and resilience-building across the world. The conference, which is scheduled to take place from 17 to 28 August 2026 during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) — will build on efforts to promote the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands.

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.