The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling decisions 3/COP.12, 3/COP.13, 8/COP.12, 7/COP.13 and decision 3/COP.14,
Recognizing that Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3 has generated significant momentum for the implementation of the Convention and that the setting of voluntary land degradation neutrality targets supports countries in mobilizing funding and technical capacities
Welcoming the start of United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) and newly established partnerships, and encouraging Parties to deepen their engagement with these and existing partnerships for the enhanced implementation of the Convention and the achievement of land degradation neutrality,
Noting with appreciation the progress made by country Parties in voluntary land degradation neutrality target-setting and the support provided by the Global Mechanism, the secretariat and relevant technical and financing partners as regards the Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme and the development of land degradation neutrality transformative projects and programmes to enhance the implementation of the Convention and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3 on land degradation neutrality, as per the results reported in document ICCD/CRIC(20)/5,
Also noting with appreciation the elements discussed in document ICCD/CRIC(20)/5 regarding a proposed way forward to support a more dynamic national enabling environment and higher efficiency and effectiveness at scale for both setting voluntary land degradation neutrality targets and supporting land degradation neutrality implementation efforts, and the related recommendations,
1. Encourages Parties that have not yet done so to formulate voluntary land degradation neutrality targets, as appropriate, and also encourages Parties which have already set targets to consider reviewing and refining them, as appropriate,
2. Further encourages Parties that have committed to voluntary land degradation neutrality targets to implement measures to accelerate their achievement, as appropriate, by:
(a) Fostering synergies among the Rio conventions and other multilateral environmental agreements, observing their respective mandates and goals, the private sector and civil society organizations, including the consideration of joint programming activities at the national and subnational level, as well as national action programmes;
(b) Strengthening national-level intersectoral coordination and cooperation based on, inter alia, integrated land-use planning, sustainable landscape management, respecting social and environmental safeguards, to guide the implementation of land degradation neutrality transformative projects and programmes;
(c) Creating an enabling environment for the achievement of land degradation neutrality, including through the responsible governance of land and tenure security, the engagement of all relevant stakeholders and the improved access of smallholder land users to advisory and financial services, in particular for women and vulnerable populations;
3. Further invites Parties, as appropriate and on a voluntary basis, to enhance the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular target 15.3, into their national strategies, plans and programmes and map them with those of the other two Rio conventions and other processes, including national development strategies, to increase transparency, policy coherence and synergies in their implementation;
4. Invites developed country Parties, and others in a position to do so, to provide financial and technical support for the implementation of the Convention and the achievement of land degradation neutrality;
5. Requests the secretariat and the Global Mechanism, within their respective mandates and subject to available resources, to:
(a) Support Parties to create an enabling environment for the achievement of voluntary national land degradation neutrality targets, including the modalities for more responsible governance of land and tenure security, efforts to increase sustainable and gender-responsive approaches to land restoration, respecting social and environmental safeguards, the engagement of relevant stakeholders, especially vulnerable and marginalized groups, and better access to innovative financing sources;
(b) Continue to develop new and strengthen existing partnerships to support the implementation of the Convention and achievement of land degradation neutrality, collaborating notably with the Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats, the Group on Earth Observations Land Degradation Neutrality Initiative, the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), the Changwon Initiative, the Ankara Initiative, the Peace Forest Initiative and other complementary initiatives, as well as with national, subregional and regional scientific bodies, to provide support to Parties;
(c) Promote public-private partnerships and partnerships with civil society organizations, within their respective roles, to support the implementation of the Convention and achievement of land degradation neutrality;
(d) Continue to contribute to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development with the aim of, inter alia, highlighting the catalytic effect of land restoration on the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals;
(e) Continue to promote synergies and knowledge-sharing among Parties on land degradation neutrality target-setting and land degradation neutrality implementation efforts;
6. Also requests the secretariat and the Global Mechanism to report, as appropriate, on the implementation of this decision at the next session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention held in conjunction with the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties.
