In August 2026, governments of the world will convene in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the 17th COP of the UN desertification treaty (UNCCD). There, among other negotiation items, governments will try to develop a global drought protocol, a post-2030 strategic framework, and put into action previous decisions related to rangelands and agriculture.
COP 17 is a key opportunity to expand Woodwell’s engagement across the UN Rio Conventions and to introduce our science to the desertification debate. COP 17 offers a platform to bring our rangelands and soil research into a multilateral policy framework focused on land degradation. Woodwell aims to work alongside international policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that land degradation and soil health strategies are supported by high-resolution empirical data.
Mongolia is an ideal host for COP 17, as rangelands comprise about 90% of its territory. The timing of the conference also aligns with the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
At COP 17, researchers from Woodwell will present a new analysis of the carbon health of the world’s rangelands, and highlight how soil carbon restoration, quantitative monitoring of land productivity, and the preservation of pastoral environments are necessary for meeting global climate and food security targets.
Woodwell’s Focus
Woodwell experts will engage with policymakers and stakeholders on key issues at COP 17:
- Woodwell’s rangeland carbon analysis will be the most comprehensive and high-resolution global picture of rangeland carbon status to date. The UNCCD recognized rangelands for their “crucial ecosystem goods and services” at COP 16, and the Mongolian Presidency has selected rangelands as one of its priorities.
- Woodwell is preparing policy briefs and maps to highlight the findings of our rangeland carbon analysis. These resources will provide science-based inputs on key issues of COP17, including data gaps in soil organic carbon, land productivity and drought vulnerability in developing countries, global indicators and datasets for land governance, and the inclusion of soil organic carbon parameters in UNCCD reporting.
- Woodwell and partners will host a side event and a Green Zone event to present the rangeland carbon analysis and to explore the ties between rangeland health, carbon, food security, and climate change.
- Woodwell experts are also co-designing the Riyadh Action Agenda’s Land and Soil Breakthrough Targets out of COP 16, focused on the Science and Technology Implementation target, which will be presented at COP 17.
Call to Collaborate
We are looking forward to connecting with our partners and building new relationships. If you’ll be at COP 17 or are otherwise interested, please let us know – events@woodwellclimate.org.
The following Woodwell experts will be present at COP 17, and are available to connect and to share their expertise at events, dialogues and bilateral meetings:
