Mongolian young herders and land advocates gather in Dundgovi to share sustainable land restoration best practices

With nearly 77 percent of its land degraded and vulnerable to desertification, Mongolia, host of the upcoming UNCCD COP17 in 2026, is advancing a wide range of ambitious plans and programmes to promote sustainable land management and restoration.

The Youth4Land National Forum, as part of the joint communications and advocacy campaign for COP17, aimed to engage young herders and the scientific community in discussing and sharing sustainable solutions for land restoration and rangeland management. The forum provided a platform for young land advocates to showcase best practices and exchange experiences, while also addressing the challenges they face in improving pasturelands—the foundation of Mongolia’s traditional nomadic livestock husbandry.

As the host of the Forum, the Governor of Dundgovi province, Ch. Munkhchuluun welcomed some 120 participants to the province, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Battsetseg, UN Resident Coordinator Jaap van Hierden, representatives of relevant ministries, international development organizations, and the research community, as well as young rural and urban delegates. 

In his welcome remarks, Governor Munkhchuluun emphasized that Dundgovi is experiencing an increasing frequency of sand and dust storms, which are taking a heavy toll on the land, severely impacting livelihoods. 

Ms. N. Chimguundari, Ambassador-at-large and Director of the COP17 Preparatory Office, highlighted that Mongolia will actively engage with young people in the run-up to COP17 to mobilise them for greater engagement and land restoration campaigns. 

The Forum also spotlighted traditional knowledge of land restoration and resilience by nomadic pastoralists, while promoting adaptation and innovation fueled by modern scientific innovation and technological advancement. 

Jaap van Hierden said, “The nomads of Mongolia are the custodians of these vast lands, passing down their knowledge from generation to generation. The upcoming COP17 will provide a valuable opportunity for Mongolia to take the global spotlight as a leader in land restoration and nature conservation efforts deeply rooted in its centuries-old nomadic wisdom and traditions.”

Representing young herders, Mr. G. Sangidorj, a herder from Deren soum, Dundgovi aimag, called on his fellow youth to take deliberate action against desertification through responsible herding, land restoration efforts, and a commitment to innovation.

The keynote speakers and esteemed panelists discussed the major challenges in combating desertification in Mongolia, and exchanged their experiences in promoting sustainable grazing practices, such as rotational grazing and community-based land management, and improving livestock productivity, which are helping to revive grasslands and improve soil health. These efforts are creating new opportunities for eco-friendly livelihoods, such as eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture. 

The winners of the “Youth4Land” Ideathon competition held before the Forum presented their innovative and scalable solutions to desertification and land degradation challenges.

Throughout the Forum, young pastoralists and urban young land activists shared raised their voices for greener and sustainable future, reflected in the final recommendation document as a Forum Declaration and was presented to the COP17 Preparatory Office, representing the Government of Mongolia at the forum. 

On the second day, marking the International Desertification and Drought Day, the participants planted trees in Mandalgovi city’s green park, contributing their share to greening the Gobi region in expression of their pledges to land restoration and the fight against desertification.