The Labs connecting nature to the classrooms
Land degradation worldwide impact more than 3.2 billion people, including children and young people, making livelihoods and access to food and water insecure. As climate events become more extreme, there is growing urgency to build resilience of the land that households and communities live and depend on.
Land Action Labs is a new initiative whose mission is to turn classrooms into centers of education in sustainable land management to build a global movement of land stewards who are well equipped to protect and restore their lands.
In the first year, land Action Labs will work with 200 schools from 20-25 schools to train up to 750 educators committed to supporting at least 25,000 student actions to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation.
The initiative draws inspiration from the 196 countries united under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, particularly the more than 130 countries who together have made commitments to restore more than 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. With more than 1.2 billion young people worldwide, the could become the generation of land stewards that brings that vision to reality.
Quote: “Education becomes transformative when students see the direct connection between what they learn and the land and communities they care about.”
Amanda Abrom, Director of the Global Schools Program and Senior Manager at the SDSN
Sustainable Development Solutions Network is leading this work, with the support and engagement of UNCCD’s G20 Global Land Initiative.
Land Action Labs was launched during the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification held in August in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Land Action Labs also advances two Sustainable Development Goals.
First, Goal 15 on Land on Life, whose target 15.3, which aims to combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, and achieve a land degradation-neutral world by 2030.
Second, Goal 4 on Quality Education, whose target 4.7 aims to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, global citizenship, and respect for human rights by 2030.
Click to Express your Interest to be part of Land Action Labs
Click to Learn More about the Initiative (link to the Flyer)
Watch the launch of the program at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia
Click to Receive regular updates about the event
For more information contact: jlee@unccd.int
