ULAANBAATAR, August 20. /Dunyo IA/. Officials from more than 190 countries have gathered in Ulaanbaatar for the 17^th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17), reports Dunyo IA correspondent, citing with the UN News.

Over the course of two weeks, participants will discuss restoring degraded land, combating drought and attracting investment.

Drought will receive particular attention at the conference. More than 70 countries have now developed national drought plans, compared with just three in 2013. Participants will also discuss early warning systems and financing mechanisms.

According to the UN, land degradation and drought already affect up to 40% of the world’s land and cost the global economy nearly $900 billion annually. Their impact is felt by around 3.2 billion people. About $355 billion is needed each year to restore land and strengthen drought resilience, while current funding stands at $77 billion. The annual funding gap is estimated at $278 billion.

The choice of Mongolia as host is not accidental: about 77% of its land is affected by degradation, while pastoral livestock farming supports roughly one in three people. In 2023–2024, droughts and harsh winters killed more than 7 million head of livestock.

COP17 is being held during the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Rangelands cover about 54% of the world’s land surface and provide livelihoods for around 2 billion people. At the same time, about half of the world’s rangelands are already degraded or under threat.

The conference is expected to strengthen international cooperation and launch new initiatives to restore land and promote sustainable rangeland management.