Connecting Countries, Partners, and Restoration Initiatives at COP17
As the global community gathers for the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), from 17 to 28 August, in Mongolia, the Ecosystem Restoration Integrated Program (ERIP) will co-organize three side events, bringing together countries, partners, and restoration leaders to discuss scaling restoration, strengthening water resilience, and advancing long-term restoration outcomes.
Aligned with this year's theme, "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope," ERIP's participation will highlight how collaboration, knowledge exchange, and long-term partnerships can help countries move from restoration commitments to implementation. Across its 20 participating countries, ERIP supports efforts to strengthen enabling conditions for restoration, build capacity, foster peer learning, and connect restoration action with global goals on land degradation, climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development.
As part of Conservation International's delegation, the ERIP Global Coordination Project team will engage with governments, implementing agencies, technical partners, donors, and restoration networks throughout the conference.
"COP17 is an important opportunity to connect restoration practitioners, governments, and partners from across regions. Through ERIP, we are supporting countries not only in implementing restoration actions, but also in building the partnerships, knowledge, and enabling conditions needed to sustain restoration efforts over the long term. We look forward to sharing lessons, strengthening collaboration, and learning from others working to restore landscapes around the world." – Monica Barcellos Harris, Senior Director, Restoration Partnerships and ERIP Global Coordination Project Lead, Conservation International
A highlight of ERIP's participation will be the official ERIP Side Event, Scaling Dryland Restoration Through Regional Platforms: Innovation, Continuity, and Investment, taking place on 26 August in the Blue Zone. The event will bring together representatives from major restoration initiatives, including AFR100, the Great Green Wall, Initiative 20x20, the Freshwater Challenge, and ERIP partner countries to discuss how regional and global platforms can help sustain restoration efforts, accelerate learning, and support long-term impact in dryland landscapes.
Through its participation at COP17, ERIP aims to elevate the role of integrated, collaborative approaches in achieving restoration at scale and to demonstrate how countries, partners, and regional initiatives can work together to sustain momentum, share lessons, and create lasting benefits for people and nature.
