From December 2 to 13, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) was held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. TNC China’s Inner Mongolia Program started with restoring degraded lands through ecological restoration and has been committed to conservation planning to adapt to climate change. The program has undertaken integrated ecological restoration demonstrations, sustainable management models, and community collaboration projects. To emphasize the importance of grassland ecological conservation and enhance China’s international influence in sustainable grassland management, TNC China’s Inner Mongolia Program and its partners organized two side events during UNCCD COP16.

Side Event 1: Valuing Grasslands: Critical Ecosystems for Nature, Climate, and People

In collaboration with TNC’s global headquarters, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), BirdLife International, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and other organizations, TNC hosted the side event Valuing Grasslands: Critical Ecosystems for Nature, Climate, and People. The event focused on showcasing the extraordinary but often overlooked health and socio-cultural value of grasslands, as well as the fragility of this ecosystem. Grassland ecologists, pastoralists, representatives of civil society organizations, and government officials from around the world shared insights on topics such as the economic value of grasslands, biodiversity, soil health, ecosystem services, and sustainable pastoralism.

Image Source: TNC

Sargai Sha, Senior Manager of TNC China’s Inner Mongolia Program, shared how the ecological and socio-cultural values of grasslands are reflected in pastoralist communities. She also presented case studies highlighting the collaborative efforts of TNC China and the Chinese government to protect these values.

Additionally, TNC China, in collaboration with the LAO NIU Foundation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and TNC Mongolia, launched theMongolian Plateau Integrative Ecological Restoration and Conservation Network (MPIERCN). This initiative aims to study the mechanisms of ecosystem degradation on the Mongolian Plateau, identify priority areas for restoration and conservation, and designate approximately 30,000 mu (about 2,000 hectares). The project will implement nature-based integrated ecological restoration and conservation demonstrations under the context of climate change, aiming to balance ecological and economic needs while preventing further desertification in the region through scientific planning, rational restoration, and sustainable development.

Image Source: TNC

Side Event 2: Restoring Degraded Grasslands to Combat Desertification in Dry Areas

TNC partnered with Beijing Forestry University’s School of Grassland Science, the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM), and the Chinese Grassland Society, to host the side event “Restoring Degraded Grasslands to Combat Desertification in Dry Areas.” This session brought together government officials, NGOs, researchers, pastoralists, community representatives, and private sector participants from around the world to share experiences and success stories in grassland restoration.

The discussions aimed to promote collaborative action for the restoration, conservation, and sustainable utilization of grasslands, aligning with the objectives of the United Nations conventions on biodiversity (UNCBD), climate change (UNFCCC), desertification (UNCCD), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event called for the establishment of new platforms for cooperation and partnerships, connecting participants and fostering cross-sector and cross-initiative collaboration to achieve shared goals for environmental protection and livelihood improvement.

Image Source: TNC

The meeting also featured a special round-table discussion with notable experts, including Mounir Louhaichi, Program Leader for Rangelands and Pastures at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA); Satrio Adi Wicaksono, Coordinator for Forest and Drylands at the IUCN Asia Regional Office; Sargai Sha from TNC; and Jonathan Davies, an independent consultant specializing in agricultural economics and ecology. Together, they engaged in in-depth exchanges, sharing valuable insights and experiences on the challenges and successes encountered in the ecological restoration of degraded grasslands worldwide.

The Round-Table Discussion ; Image Source: TNC