This thought-provoking panel discussion convened experts, youth leaders, and environmental advocates to explore the critical interconnections between forestry, agriculture, and global environmental frameworks, including the three Rio Conventions. The session highlighted the biodiversity conservation efforts on the Mongolian Plateau, as well as the potential of agroecology to restore soil health and combat land degradation. Participants collaborated to identify actionable pathways for bridging sectoral and generational gaps to achieve a sustainable future.

Host: EPDA Cameroon
Panelists:

Moderator: Hemanshu

• Prof. Suo Cheng Dong (Academician, China)
• Neekita Urang (Climate Advocate, India)
• Ajuna Tadeo (Youth Leader, Uganda)

Discussion Highlights

1. Desertification: Combating and Green Development Practices in Northwest China and the Mongolian Plateau:
   Prof. Suo Cheng Dong shared innovative strategies and practices that blend scientific insights with traditional ecological knowledge to combat desertification and foster sustainable development.
2. Bridging Forestry and Agriculture gap:
   Neekita Urang emphasized the need for integrated policies that align agricultural productivity with forest conservation, addressing trade-offs and creating synergies between the two sectors.
3. Youth and Community as Catalysts for Change:
   Neekita Urang and Ajuna Tadeo discussed how youth-led initiatives and local community engagement are critical for driving sustainable practices and innovative solutions.
4. Intergenerational Collaboration:
   A lively and participatory intergenerational discourse explored the role of experienced leaders in mentoring young activists, fostering knowledge exchange, and ensuring continuity in sustainable land management efforts.

Objectives Achieved

• Synergy Identification: Emphasized the critical need to align forestry, agriculture, and environmental policies for sustainable, integrated solutions.
• Enhancing Cooperation: Highlighted the value of inter-sectoral collaboration and innovative financing to address sustainability challenges.
• Youth Empowerment: Amplified youth voices, showcasing their initiatives as key drivers of change while emphasizing the need for platforms that foster capacity building and resource mobilization.

Key Takeaways

1. Integrated Strategies: Sustainable land management requires holistic approaches that address climate, biodiversity, and land restoration objectives collectively.
2. Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging diverse stakeholders, particularly youth and local communities, ensures long-term effectiveness and ownership of sustainable practices.
3. Technology and Financing: Leveraging technology and innovative financing mechanisms can scale integrated solutions to address environmental challenges effectively.

Conclusion

The session concluded with a reflective question from the moderator:
“How can generations collaborate to deliver sustainable solutions for land, climate, and biodiversity?”

This interactive discussion bridged generational knowledge gaps, fostering a dialogue that blended traditional wisdom with contemporary innovation, paving the way for sustainable environmental stewardship.

Acknowledgments

EPDA thanks the organizers, panelists, and participants for their invaluable contributions to this critical discussion. The outcomes of this event will inspire future actions and collaborations toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.

The post Breaking the Treadmill: Bridging Forestry, Agriculture, and the Rio Conventions for a Sustainable Future first appeared on EPDA.

Moderator: Tanda Godwin (EPDA)

Panelists

1. Sunday Geoffrey (SUHUCAM)
2. Riham Helmy (Envirox)
3. Harrison Nnoko (AJESH)
4. Dr. Meena Bilgi (Green Future Foundation)
5. Francis (PCA ASMDE Relief)

Mr. Tanda Godwin (moderator)

 Key Discussion Themes

The panel started with a background note to water sustainability and land management practices across the world water stressed areas and desert lands as follows:

Water sustainability and land management are critical global challenges, particularly in desert and semi-arid regions where water scarcity and land degradation threaten ecosystems, livelihoods, and human well-being. These issues are central to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which addresses land degradation neutrality (LDN) and promotes sustainable land and water use practices. The UNCCD cop 16 brings renewed attention to these challenges, fostering discussions and commitments to enhance resilience in the world’s most stressed ecosystems.

Within the context of Global Context of Water Scarcity and Land Degradation:

• Approximately 40% of the world’s land is classified as drylands, hosting over 2 billion people, many of whom depend on fragile ecosystems for agriculture and livelihoods.
• Desertification impacts 23% of global land, reducing productivity, threatening food security, and increasing vulnerability to climate change.
• Over 2 billion people live in regions experiencing high water stress.
• Global warming exacerbates water scarcity, especially in desert regions like the Sahel, Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia and Australia.
• Rising temperatures and erratic precipitation patterns worsen soil erosion, water shortages, and desertification, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.

The panel discussions were then focused on responding to the practices of irrigation and land management practices and the challenges and local solutions related to irrigation and land degradation in India, Cameroon, Egypt and Dr Congo, with each panelist sharing insights and perspectives from their respective organizations and countries.

Panelist Perspectives

• Country perspectives
• Irrigation challenges in different African and developing countries
• Land degradation issues
• Potential mitigation strategies
• Regional water sustainability approaches

Recommendations from Panelists

• Focus on the context and cultural practices and leveraging on indigenous knowledge that trigger sustainable management.
• Women and children should be at the center of thinking actionable initiatives as they are the most vulnerable yet the women are the teachers and the children are the future
• More efforts should be put to carry out indebt scientific research on specific regional irrigation potentials and cultural practices which then inform policies, opens up for financial resource mobilization and integration of technology for which youth will be at the forefront.
• Explore collaborative approaches to land management
• Develop targeted strategies for water conservation
• Stablish the green school initiative across academia and in communities for a better youth fulfilled future.

Acknowledgments

EPDA extends its gratitude to the organizers, panelists, and participants for their invaluable contributions to this critical discussion. The outcomes of this event will inspire future actions and collaborations towards a more sustainable and inclusive future.

The post Panel Discussion Report: Water Sustainability and Land Management: A Reflection from Africa and Developing Countries. first appeared on EPDA.

On December 5, 2024, the Environmental Protection and Development Association (EPDA) hosted a compelling panel discussion on the theme “Agro-Food Systems” as part of the UNCCD COP16 conference.

Moderated by EPDA’s Executive Director, Mr. Tanda Godwin, the event convened experts, advocates, and stakeholders to explore pressing issues related to sustainable agriculture and food security.

To set the stage, Mr. Godwin provided an insightful overview of agroecological practices, highlighting case studies from across Africa. This contextual introduction framed the discussion and posed key questions for the panel:

• How can policies drive the adoption and scaling of agroecological practices?
• What role does civil society play in promoting agroecology and supporting farmers?
• How are local communities implementing agroecological solutions, and what challenges do they encounter?
• How can businesses and entrepreneurs invest in sustainable agriculture and strengthen value chains for agroecological products?

The first panel, titled “Promoting Agroecological Practices to Restore Degraded Lands and Improve Food Security,” featured Mr. Sunday Godfrey, Executive Director of SUHUCAM, who shared practical insights on agroecological innovations and their role in combating land degradation while enhancing food production.

The second panel, “Empowering Women and Youth as Key Agents in Sustainable Land Management and Improved Food Production,” spotlighted Sarah, EPDA’s Youth Coordinator, who emphasized the importance of youth and women’s active participation in advancing sustainable agricultural practices and land stewardship.

During the general discussions, Mr. Peter Ngole, Executive Director of AJESH, explored the policy dimensions of agroecology in Cameroon, highlighting technology integration and networking as crucial enablers for scaling incomes and fostering land restoration initiatives.

Mr. Wajiri Melvine, President and Founder of PEP Africa, stressed the social development aspect of agroecology, emphasizing that food security is a universal right. He called for collective action among governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to prioritize agroecology as a central strategy for sustainable development.

Additionally, Michael A. Cullen, (D.Phil.) who is the Managing Director, Head of Africa Project Sourcing at Terra Global Capital Ltd and an AJESH Partner, provided a global private sector perspective on agroecology, underscoring the role of forest restoration and carbon sequestration in combating climate change and advancing sustainable land management. It should be noted that Terra Global Capital Support the development of market mechanisms structured to conserve and sustain ecosystem services.

Held at the EPDA Pavilion (B13), this session offered a dynamic platform for exploring diverse aspects of agro-food systems, including land restoration, sustainable farming, and socio-economic empowerment. The insights and recommendations shared by the distinguished panelists contributed meaningfully to the broader discussions at UNCCD COP16, underscoring agroecology’s vital role in achieving land degradation neutrality and food security globally.

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