Yesterday, the Embassy of Mongolia in the United States, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) delivered a joint briefing on the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), set to be hosted in Ulaanbaatar in August 2026.

The event, hosted at the Embassy of Mongolia in Washington, DC, explored the importance of investing in land restoration and environmental and economic security. Remarks were delivered by representatives of the Government of Mongolia and IUCN, as well as partners from the World Bank Group, the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) Secretariat, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Discussions centred around COP17’s theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope” and the actionable steps needed to ensure the longevity of rangeland ecosystems, as well as the local communities which rely on them. Additionally, the strategic initiatives led by the Government of Mongolia were highlighted, including the Steppe Action Agenda, the Coalition of Rangeland States, and the soon-to-be established Eurasian Centre for Climate and Land.

“Mongolia’s rangelands, which cover the majority of our country’s land surface and are deeply linked to our cultural heritage, are facing severe threats from degradation. We must recognize land as vital environmental and economic infrastructure,” said H.E. Munkhtamir Batbayar, Mongolia’s Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “In doing so, we can also make progress towards restoring these ecosystems and ensuring the people who rely on them have secure livelihoods. We look forward to seeing Parties participate in COP17 and embrace the vision to restore land and restore hope.”

“Bringing so many partners together today reinforces that the challenges facing rangelands are real, but they’re also solvable if we work together towards solutions,” said H.E. Batbayar Ulziidelger, Ambassador of Mongolia to the USA. “The Embassy of Mongolia is proud to host today’s event and demonstrate our commitment to rangelands and pastoralists, and we’re pleased to see many other actors—from Parties to partners to community members—mobilised to join us in the mission of UNCCD COP17.”

“Today's conversation is a testament to what happens when political will meets practical partnership. Mongolia's leadership—from the Steppe Action Agenda to the proposed Eurasian Centre for Climate and Land—signals that COP17 in Ulaanbaatar will advance real solutions to the global land crisis,” said Tracy Farrell, Regional Director, IUCN North America. “IUCN's Members made formal commitments to grassland and rangeland conservation at our World Conservation Congress last year, and we are honoured to carry those commitments alongside Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar this August.” 

“IUCN is working alongside partners such as the Government of Mongolia, civil society, and local communities to ensure rangelands are conserved and restored for the benefit of the millions of people who depend on them, while safeguarding biodiversity and climate resilience,” said Chetan Kumar, Global Head, IUCN Forest and Grasslands. “Through capacity building, financing, and action on the ground, IUCN is committed to delivering lasting impact for grasslands, rangelands, and pastoral communities at UNCCD COP17 and beyond.”

Discussions were followed by a networking reception. This event builds on the existing partnership between IUCN and the Government of Mongolia, which was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2025 and a new GEF-funded UNCCD Mongolia COP17 Legacy Project.

For more information on IUCN’s engagement with UNCCD, visit the IUCN website.

Published Date:2026-06-12