The Conference of the Parties (COP15) against deforestation began yesterday in Abidjan in the presence of several heads of state to try to take concrete action to counter the rapid destruction of land and its deadly effects on biodiversity and the inhabitants of the Earth. This conference, similar to the Conference of the Parties on climate change, focuses on fundamental issues at a time when the United Nations estimates that the share of land destroyed in the world is about 40%. Nine African heads of state are expected, including Nigerian President Mohamed Bazum, his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi and Togo’s President Fore Gnassingbe, as well as Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara.
French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will take part in the discussions via video link. The participants will try to agree on concrete steps to stop the spread of desertification. The statement released by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification says that this year’s theme is “Lands. a life. “Legacy: From an Unstable World to a Prosperous Future” is “a call to action to ensure that the Earth, which is the source of our life on this planet, is preserved for the benefit of present and future generations.”
“The conference will focus on restoring one billion hectares of devastated land by 2030, sustainable land management in the face of climate change, and combating increased risks of natural disasters such as drought, sandstorms, dust storms and wildfires,” the statement said. . It is also expected that the issue of the Great Green Wall, a huge project aimed at restoring 100 million hectares of drylands in Africa by 2030 along an 8,000 km stretch from Senegal to Djibouti, will be raised, in particular, during the closing conference. May 20.
