The COP15 against deforestation opens today in Abidjan. Nine African heads of state, including those of Niger, the DRC and Togo, are expected to attend the meeting with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. They aim to take concrete action against the rapid land degradation and its harmful consequences for biodiversity and the population.
The theme of this event, "Land. Life. Heritage. From a precarious world to a prosperous future," is "a call to action to ensure that the earth, which is our source of life on this planet, continues to benefit present and future generations," the UNCCD said in a statement.
Less known than its "big sister" on climate, this 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) addresses issues equally crucial at a time when the UN estimates that 40% of our planet's land is degraded.
The African continent is severely affected by desertification, especially in its Sahelian strip. The issue of the Great Green Wall, a pharaonic project that aims to restore 100 million hectares of arid land in Africa by 2030 on a strip of 8,000 kilometers from Senegal to Djibouti, should be addressed during the work that will end May 20.
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