XIEG Joins UNCCD COP17 to Advance Global Dryland Sustainability through Joint Initiatives and Scientific Reports

The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (XIEG) was invited to participate in the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to 28, 2026.

During the conference, XIEG co-launched the ANSO Dryland Sustainable Development Initiative and supporting scientific reports, and engaged in productive exchanges with international organizations and national delegations.

Joint Launch of the ANSO Dryland Sustainable Development Initiative

On August 24, XIEG, together with the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO), the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS), the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), and the University of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (UMAS), jointly hosted a side event in blue zone themed “Science, Technology, and Innovation for Rangeland Restoration and Combating Desertification”. The event brought together over 110 participants from research, policy, and industry sectors.

The conference released the ANSO Dryland Sustainable Development Initiative: Multilateral Collaboration and Science Empowerment, alongside two supporting science reports. These documents provide best practices and systematic solutions for dryland management and sustainable grassland management in Belt and Road partner countries.

Group photo of the Delegation of XIEG.

Release of the ANSO Scientific Report on Unlocking Opportunities for Combating Desertification and Advancing Sustainable Dryland Governance

ANSO cooperated with XIEG and other international experts to publish the scientific report Unlocking Opportunities for Combating Desertification and Advancing Sustainable Dryland Governance. The report compiles governance case studies from key dryland regions worldwide. It is co-edited by Prof. LEI Jiaqiang (XIEG), Prof. Peter Gilruth (PIFI Visiting Scholar of XIEG), and Prof. German Kust (Russian Academy of Sciences), with contributions from XIEG researchers, including Prof. DU Mingyuan, Prof. GAO Xin, and Prof. Alishir Kurban, as well as other renowned Chinese and international experts.

The report highlights that a critical issues in desertification governance is the insufficient integration of science research, policy making and management. It stresses that governance effectiveness should be evaluated based on long-term regional ecological governance capacity, inter sectoral coordination mechanisms, and ecological resilience, rather than merely by the area of restored land.

The release site of the ANSO scientific report.

Sharing Green Development Expertise and Co-hosting Side Events

On the afternoon of August 24, XIEG co-organized a side event on “Green Technology for Sustainable Rangeland and Livelihood System” with MAS, UCAS, and UMAS. The event was attended by representatives from research institutions, government agencies, and businesses from China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Japan, Senegal, and other countries.

Prof. DUAN Weili, Deputy Director of XIEG, underscored the Institute’s long-term commitment to developing technologies for biodiversity conservation, water resource management, desertification control, and economic sand barriers in his opening remarks. He emphasized the need to recognize deserts and rangelands as natural assets with ecological, cultural, and economic value, calling for science-driven governance and enhanced international cooperation.

Deputy Director DUAN Weili was invited to deliver opening remarks.

XIEG researchers, including Prof. LEI Jiaqiang and Dr. YU Xiang, presented proposals on ecological governance technology cooperation in the Belt and Road arid regions.

A panel discussion with international experts explored regional cooperation mechanisms that integrate science, solutions, and policy support. Participants reached a consensus on establishing a regional dryland technology laboratory and promoting joint project applications.

On August 26, at the invitation of the UNCCD Secretariat, XIEG participated in the Land and People day. Through video presentations, keynote speeches, and dialogues with international peers, XIEG comprehensively showcased Xinjiang’s 30 years of sustained efforts and innovative practices in desertification control. Dr. FU Shilin delivered a keynote report titled “Landscape-Scale Practices and Global Benefits of Desertification Control in Xinjiang, China”.

Through a series of side events, XIEG shared technologies and models for desertification control from Xinjiang and Central Asia, reinforcing its commitment to addressing global dryland challenges.

Prof. LEI Jiaqiang attended the China Pavilion side meeting and delivered a presentation.

Expanding Bilateral and Multilateral Science and Technology Cooperation

During COP17, a delegation led by Deputy Director DUAN Weili held productive bilateral and multilateral meetings with national delegations, including those from Mauritania and Uganda, and met with the UNCCD Secretariat and the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall (APGMV).

These series of exchanges and discussions mark a significant step forward in XIEG's implementation of the Belt and Road Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and its commitment to building a “Dryland Community with a Shared Future”. By reinforcing the Sino-African cooperation bond, exploring new avenues for partnership, and actively aligning with multilateral governance frameworks, XIEG has not only strengthened its global presence but also elevated its role as a key contributor to dryland sustainability worldwide.

Through these efforts, the Institute continues to deliver China’s knowledge and technological innovation to address pressing challenges in arid regions, making a tangible and lasting impact on the future of dryland communities across the globe.Contact

HUANG

Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography

E-mail: zlhuang@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Web: http://english.egi.cas.cn