ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia — Somalia is seeking deeper cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme on restoring degraded ecosystems, improving land management and expanding technical support as the country confronts growing environmental and climate pressures.
Abdirisak Ahmed Ali, director general of Somalia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, met with Doreen Lynn Robinson, UNEP’s deputy director for ecosystems, on the sidelines of the 17th session of the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Ulaanbaatar.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Somalia and UNEP in ecosystem restoration, combating land degradation and expanding technical assistance for sustainable environmental management, according to Ali.
The meeting came as governments and international organizations gathered in Mongolia for COP17, held from Aug. 17 to 28 under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.” The conference brought the global focus to desertification, land degradation and drought, with particular attention to restoring landscapes, strengthening drought resilience and protecting livelihoods.
For Somalia, the issue has immediate consequences. The country’s economy and livelihoods remain heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock, leaving communities particularly exposed to drought, water shortages, land degradation and increasingly unpredictable weather.
The U.N. has warned that land degradation and drought are closely linked to food insecurity, displacement and economic losses. Globally, up to 40 percent of the world’s land is estimated to be degraded, affecting billions of people.
Somalia’s environmental authorities have increasingly emphasized land restoration and sustainable management of natural resources as part of the country’s climate agenda.
The talks with UNEP could provide Somalia with additional technical expertise and international cooperation as it seeks to restore damaged ecosystems and improve the management of land and water resources.
The broader COP17 discussions also highlighted the connection between restoring degraded land and reducing the risks of future droughts, protecting food systems and strengthening the resilience of rural communities.
For Somalia, officials say stronger international partnerships will be essential to turning environmental commitments into practical projects that can protect livelihoods and make vulnerable communities more resilient to climate shocks.
