On June 5, 2024, to commemorate World Environment Day, the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training organized a significant event. In partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and with the support of a prestigious scientific committee, the event brought together world-renowned experts, university researchers, doctoral candidates, and institutional representatives. They addressed critical challenges related to land restoration, combating desertification, and resilience to drought. Under the banner “We are the #GenerationRestoration : Revitalizing land for a brighter future,” the discussions were both enriching and visionary.

This edition also celebrated the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The honorary participation of the Programs Officer for the regional coordination of the Convention provided a retrospective of three decades of efforts against desertification and presented perspectives for the future.

Inaugural speeches were delivered by prominent figures, including the Director of Partnerships, Communication, and Cooperation at the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Director of the Legal Division of UNEP, the Chair of IUCN WCEL Biodiversity law Specialist Group and the Representative for Africa and Chair of the UNCCD CSO Panel. As well as the regional facilitators of Major Groups and Stakeholders of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for Africa and West Asia, the Founder of the Saudi Green Building Forum, and the Head of the Department of Communication and Cooperation of the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), the host organization of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Morocco, all shared their inspiring visions. These interventions underscored the crucial importance of international collaboration in overcoming global environmental challenges.

The roundtable discussion focused on two main themes. The first theme centered on the restoration and sustainable management of land in Africa. A representative from the National Agency for the Development of Oases Zones and the Argan Tree (ANDZOA) and a doctoral candidate from Mohammed VI Polytechnic University shared insights on best practices and policies for land restoration. ANDZOA highlighted the Sustainable Oasis project, aimed at revitalizing oasis areas through integrated natural resource management and sustainable agricultural practices. The second theme, jointly led by an expert from the consulting firm Agri Development & Research and a doctoral candidate from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, focused on innovative measures and strategies to enhance the resilience of African communities to desertification and drought.

The scientific day concluded with a summary session led by the Chairman of the steering committee, AGUYEN, who synthesized the recommendations from the discussions. The closing ceremony featured inspiring interventions from the Ambassador of the Great Green Wall and President of the One Billion Trees for Africa initiative.

With approximately 200 participants present and online, this event demonstrated the power of scientific and institutional collaboration in addressing contemporary environmental challenges. The discussions and recommendations formulated during this roundtable will serve as a solid foundation for the deliberations of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, scheduled for December 2024 in Saudi Arabia.

Together, we can restore our planet and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come !