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7 June 2023, Bonn, Germany — The G20 Global Land Initiative of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is hosting a four-day “blueprinting workshop” in Cologne from 5 to 8 June 2023 in Cologne, Germany. The workshop will outline the next steps in creating a global course titled, “Sustainable Agriculture for Land Restoration.” The aim of the course is to enhance existing agriculture programs worldwide and address the pressing issue of land degradation.

G20 Leaders’ Declaration, in November 2020, set up the “Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats.” Under this initiative, the G20 countries, have committed to achieving a 50 percent reduction in degraded land by 2040.

Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy, Director, G20 Global land Initiative (GLI) says: “the development of the ‘Sustainable Agriculture for Land Restoration’ course is a vital step towards meeting this ambitious target.”

“By integrating land restoration into agriculture, forestry and mining programs at universities globally, the G20 Global Land Initiative seeks to build capacity and empower future land stewards to contribute to sustainable development. The ambition is to reach one million trainees in 20 years,” he adds.

Dr Karen Sudmeier-Rieux, Capacity-building expert at the GLI and the Course Coordinator, says, “the transdisciplinary elective course intends to equip future restoration graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively restore and manage land in a sustainable manner.”

“The outcomes of this workshop will lay the groundwork for the further development of the course, which is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable land management and restoration practices worldwide,” she adds.

During the workshop, a core group of 15 to 20 experts, representing diverse geographical backgrounds, will collaborate to design the blueprint for the course. They include representatives from: Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands; Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR); Center for Development and Environment and World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies at the University of Berne in Switzerland; and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The event is co-hosted by Center for Natural Resources and Development at the Institute for Technology Resources (TH-Köln) in Cologne, Germany.

Key objectives of the workshop include formulating a draft course curriculum, identifying core competencies, defining learning objectives, and outlining module content. Furthermore, an analysis of existing materials will be conducted to identify any gaps and determine additional requirements.

Various topics will be addressed, such as learning objectives, teaching formats, existing materials, and partnerships for disseminating the course. The participants will also develop templates for course materials and case studies.

The development of the “Sustainable Agriculture for Land Restoration” course aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which aims to halt and reverse ecosystem degradation worldwide by 2030.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Muralee Thummarukudy, Director G20 Global Initiative on Land

Muralee.thummarudkudy@unccd.org

Dr. Karen Sudmeier-Rieux, Capacity-building expert, G20 Global Initiative on Land

Karen.sudmeier@gmail.com

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