Desertification Cooperation Expands As NCVC Hosts Regional Meeting On UNCCD Reporting

The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification was selected by the UNCCD as one of seven regional institutions to provide technical support and capacity building for national reporting. This role confirmed NCVC’s position as a regional hub for cooperation and knowledge sharing across North Africa and West Asia.

Following this selection, NCVC held the first regional introductory meeting for Arabic-speaking countries, with representatives from 16 states, including Saudi Arabia. Delegates from North Africa and West Asia took part. The main goal was to help these countries prepare national reports for submission to the UNCCD Secretariat.

Participants reviewed Saudi Arabia’s experience in developing vegetation cover and combating desertification, with NCVC outlining national practices and lessons. The meeting also explained the structure of the UNCCD national report, its scope and core components, and the timetable involved. Attention focused on aligning national submissions with Convention requirements to support strategic objectives at national and regional scales.

The discussions presented an upcoming workplan for 2026, including a regional workshop, targeted technical assistance and ongoing follow-up throughout reporting stages. NCVC stated that these efforts support national environmental goals by advancing projects to restore vegetation cover and limit land degradation. These activities link with the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, and take place while Saudi Arabia holds the Presidency of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP16).

With inputs from SPA