How FAO will help restore region’s landscapes at COP16

As global attention this week converges on Riyadh for the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, known as COP16, the urgency to combat land degradation and desertification takes center stage. For the Near East and North Africa region, where degraded lands and water scarcity are acute challenges, COP16 provides a pivotal platform to showcase transformative solutions that are not only innovative but also essential for sustainable development and climate resilience.
Land degradation in the Near East and North Africa threatens food security, rural livelihoods and ecosystem health. Alarmingly, the proportion of degraded land has risen from 40 percent to 70 percent in recent decades. Five million hectares were lost between 1990 and 2020, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE have less than 1 percent arable land.
At COP16, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN is highlighting the urgent need for sustainable land restoration practices as a pathway to revitalize degraded landscapes, improve soil health and protect biodiversity. Through integrated land management approaches, the FAO is enabling countries to address the immediate impacts of land degradation and establish long-term resilience to climate challenges. These efforts underline the role of agrifood systems as central solutions to combat climate crises and achieve land degradation neutrality and align with “Priority 3: Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action” under the FAO’s Regional Priority Framework.
Droughts have caused $70 billion in economic losses across Africa over the past 50 years, with their increasing severity and frequency impacting the Near East and North Africa region’s water and food systems. Agriculture consumes 85 percent of the region’s renewable water resources, yet 60 percent of the water supply originates from outside its borders, further complicating resource management. With temperatures projected to increase by up to 4.8 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, these challenges are expected to worsen.
At COP16, the FAO is focusing on strengthening drought resilience by promoting advanced technologies, early warning systems, sustainable water conservation practices and leveraging digitalization and artificial intelligence. These tools enable smarter resource management, enhance predictive capabilities for drought monitoring and support the efficient allocation of water resources. These efforts align with the FAO’s Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity for the Near East and North Africa, which works to optimize water use efficiency and ensure sustainable water management across the region.
A sustainable future for the region hinges on the inclusion of women and youth in land governance. Systemic inequalities mean that, despite their critical roles in agriculture and natural resource management, women own less than 7 percent of agricultural land in the region and face barriers to accessing resources and decision-making roles. Similarly, youth struggle with limited access to land and financial services, exacerbating their vulnerability to environmental challenges.

The FAO is enabling countries to address the impacts of land degradation and establish long-term resilience.

Abdulhakim Elwaer

At COP16, the FAO is highlighting its initiatives to empower women and youth by providing them with tools, training and a platform for participation in governance processes. Inclusive governance not only addresses systemic inequalities but also strengthens agrifood systems, ensuring they are resilient, equitable and better equipped to meet the challenges of land degradation and climate change.
Rapid urbanization is transforming the region, with 73 percent of its population projected to live in cities by 2050. This demographic shift increases demand for food and natural resources, straining rural agricultural systems and urban infrastructure. At COP16, FAO is addressing this challenge by showcasing strategies that strengthen urban-rural linkages by integrating rural producers into urban food systems. These efforts promote access to nutritious food while reducing environmental impacts and fostering sustainable development.
Water scarcity remains one of the most critical challenges in the Near East and North Africa. Most of the region’s countries have fewer than 1,000 cubic meters of water per capita annually and rely heavily on desalination and groundwater extraction, leading to unsustainable pressure on resources.
At COP16, the FAO is advocating for collaborative solutions to address water scarcity, including water-saving technologies, improved irrigation systems and integrated resource management. These approaches are essential to sustaining agricultural productivity while safeguarding water resources for future generations.
The scale of transformation needed to combat land degradation and desertification requires robust policy frameworks, innovative technologies and substantial financial investment. At COP16, the FAO is calling for financing mechanisms that prioritize agricultural communities, ensuring resources reach those most affected by environmental challenges.
A key initiative highlighted at COP16 is the Regional Investment Framework for Integrated Development and Ecosystem Restoration Solutions in the Near East and North Africa. This framework promotes integrated approaches to land restoration, uniting public and private sector investments to support large-scale, sustainable projects that enhance food security, promote greening agriculture, improve livelihoods and build resilience to climate change across the region.
By integrating agrifood systems into regional and global strategies, the FAO is enabling transformative actions that address land degradation while driving progress toward sustainable development and resilience.
The challenges faced by the Near East and North Africa are emblematic of a global crisis that demands immediate and collective action. Through its interventions at COP16, the FAO is reaffirming its commitment to solutions that prioritize sustainability, inclusivity and resilience.
The regional investment framework is central to this effort. By fostering partnerships, empowering communities and leveraging innovative approaches, the FAO is addressing the region’s unique challenges while setting a precedent for global action against land degradation and desertification.
As we advance, the outcomes of COP16 will drive transformative change, shaping a future where sustainable land management and agrifood systems foster resilience and prosperity. Let us seize this moment to ensure that no region, no community and no individual is left behind in the fight for a sustainable planet.

• Abdulhakim Elwaer is FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa.