Bangkok: The Land Development Department organized the World Desert and Drought Day 2025, promoting the concept of land restoration, creating economic opportunities, emphasizing the integration of all sectors, and developing sustainable agriculture and the environment. Ms. Anongnat Chakaew, Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, presided over the opening ceremony of ‘World Desertification and Drought Day’ 2025 under the concept of ‘Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities’.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thaweesak Thanadechopol, Director-General of the Land Development Department, reported that the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has designated June 17 of each year as World Desertification and Drought Day. This year, the goal is to restore more than 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land worldwide to stimulate the land restoration economy, which is worth more than a trillion dollars, and to prevent the impacts of land degradation, which cover food security, water, climate, and quality of life worldwide. The latest data shows that more than 40 percent of the world’s land surface is facing land degradation, which is expected to become more severe.
The event aims to raise awareness of desertification, land degradation and drought, and promote participation from government, private, educational institutions, civil society, farmers, and the general public to drive land rehabilitation measures and create sustainable economic value.
Ms. Anongnat emphasized the role of the Land Development Department as the national coordinating agency of the UNCCD, which has been working to prevent and reduce the impacts of land degradation and drought through land use planning, land allocation, land degradation rehabilitation, water management, and soil and water conservation. She also invited network partners to join the World Desertification and Drought Day activities to expand cooperation at all levels.
The event also included academic activities and exhibitions from network partners, such as a special lecture on ‘Restoring the Land, Opening Opportunities, Creating Careers,’ a presentation on ‘The Role of Land Ownership in National Economic Development,’ and a forum on ‘How is Land Connected to Economic Opportunities?’ to exchange knowledge, push for land restoration policies to produce tangible results, and create awareness among farmers, volunteer soil doctors, and the general public towards sustainable development in line with the SDGs.