Desert camp with round yurts on red sand; a yurt with a blue door and people near a blue vehicle.

Restoring Land, Restoring Hope

UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia

The 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17-28 August 2026 under the theme "Restoring Land, Restoring Hope." Mongolia is the first country in East and Central Asia to host a UNCCD COP, marking a historic moment for the region and for global action on land restoration.

Mongolia is among the countries most affected by desertification, with nearly 77 percent of its land degraded. The country’s vast rangelands support herder livelihoods, food security, biodiversity and cultural heritage, yet they are increasingly under pressure from climate change, overgrazing, drought, dust storms and declining pasture quality. Hosting COP17 is therefore especially significant: it allows Mongolia to bring global attention to the realities facing dryland communities while sharing practical experience in sustainable rangeland management, ecosystem restoration and community-led resilience.

UNDP Mongolia at COP17

UNDP supports efforts to translate global commitments on land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable land management into practical solutions that benefit people, nature and economies. Since 1976, UNDP has worked in Mongolia, partnering with the Government and communities to advance sustainable, inclusive and resilient development.

UNDP Mongolia co-hosted a series of side events at COP17:

 

COP17 poster: person in red on a rocky shore against a teal gradient background.
COP17: AI to boost policy coherence between Rio Conventions and national plans; rural landscape.
Woman beside solar panels in Mongolia; COP17 banner for clean heating in ger districts.
COP17 poster with a bison in a grassy plain with snowy mountains; climate and land restoration.
COP17 poster: Scaling Integrated Water and Land Resilience in Mongolia; marsh with a bird.
Poster over a Mongolian mountainscape announcing a talk on implicit subsidies and tariff reform in Mongolia.
Mongolian herder in red traditional robe with yellow sash on a poster about sustainable rangeland financing.

Voices from the Frontlines

Discover stories from Mongolia's communities on the frontlines of climate change and land restoration. Explore how people, partnerships, and UNDP-supported solutions are helping restore ecosystems, strengthen livelihoods, and build a more resilient future.

Nature Pledge Country Office Profile: Mongolia

Split-screen: satellite view of Mongolia on the left; a man walks along a mountain ridge on the right.

Threads of Change

At UNCCD COP17, our new campaign, Threads of Change, brings to life a powerful story. Woven from Mongolia's vast rangelands to the global stage of COP17, it tells a story of nature restored, livelihoods sustained, and value created. This unique collaboration brings together Mongolian herders and producers - stewards of rangelands - with sustainable fashion innovators, transforming natural fibres into a capsule collection of cashmere products including scarves, shawls and headbands, specially made for COP17. Together, the collection highlights the nature-positive economic potential of our future. ​‌

Volunteerism in Action: 400 UN Volunteers Supporting UNCCD COP17

More than 400 UN Volunteers will support COP17 through UNDP, working alongside the National Organizing Committee, the Mongolian Red Cross, and other partners to help ensure the conference runs smoothly. Through their contribution to operations, logistics, communications, and delegate services, they will help create an inclusive and well-coordinated experience while demonstrating the power of volunteerism to support resilient communities, healthy ecosystems, and sustainable development. Beyond the conference, their engagement will leave a lasting legacy of strengthened civic participation and environmental stewardship in Mongolia.

 

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For media inquiries:

Khulan Bayarsaikhan, UNDP Mongolia Communications Analyst, khulan.bayarsaikhan@undp.org, 976-99096434