(4th Meeting) Committee of the Whole - UNCCD COP17

Distinguished delegates, please have a seat. We shall start right now. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I call to order the fourth meeting of the Committee of the Whole of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on its, to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification at its seventeenth session. I invite the Committee to continue its consideration I invite the committee to continue its consideration of agenda item five entitled policy frameworks and thematic issues and turn to turn its attention to the issue of range lands and pastoralists to hear the remaining speaker on the list from our meeting of yesterday afternoon. I give the floor to the representative of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Sameh, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals would like to highlight an important opportunity for strengthening synergies between the UNCCD and CMS on sustainable pastoralism. Migratory species depend On connected functional ecosystems, pasture lands and migratory species habitats often overlap, but the relationship between pastoralists and wildlife is complex. Many migratory birds and mammals benefit from sustainably used rangelands, which can maintain diverse ecosystems, prevent their conversion to other forms of land use, which can be unsuitable for wildlife. However, overgrazing by livestock and human wildlife conflict greatly contribute to land degradation as well as to the loss of biodiversity, including migratory species. At its 15th meeting held in Campo Grande, Brazil earlier this year, the CMS Conference of the Parties adopted a set of decisions on pastoralism and migratory species, notably CMS COP 15 Decision 15. 205 gives the CMS Scientific Council's Working Group on Pastoralism an explicit mandate to cooperate with the UNCCD Secretariat. It is tasked with preparing recommendations on sustainable pastoralism in migratory species habitat and advising how these recommendations can be mainstreamed into land use and conservation policies at national and international levels. with the objective of achieving benefits both for the conservation of migratory species and for pastoralist communities. As many of the delegates attending COP17 are working both on sustainable land use management and on the conservation of migratory species and landscapes, I would like to bring this mandate to the attention of the meeting. We hope that addressing these issues in a synergistic way will help to advance the protection of migratory species of wildlife, pastoral livelihoods and prevent land degradation in the coming years into Alia through implementation of the CMS COP 15 decisions on pastoralism and UNCCD COP 17 decisions on rangelands and pastoralists. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of CMS. I see requests from the floor, however, I like to recall that yesterday I closed the list of speakers under these agenda items. I will hence kindly ask you to discuss this matter further in the contacts group. I see Indonesia is requesting for the floor. I want just to make sure if are you going to speak on that agenda item precisely or? Thank you so much. There is no more request for the floor. So now, distinguished delegates, I invite the committee to turn its consideration of agenda item two entitled a review of progress in the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Communication Plan, for which the Committee has before it documents ICCD/COP17/CRP1. I first give the floor to Madame Xenia Scallon of the ICCD Secretariat to introduce these notes. You have the floor, Madame.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much, Chair.

Distinguished delegates, at the meeting of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties on the 24th of February 2026, Germany, on behalf of the European Union and its member states, requested the inclusion of the review of the progress in the implementation of the UNCCD communication plan as an item on the agenda of the COP at its 17th session. To facilitate the deliberations on this agenda item, the Secretariat has prepared document ICCD/COP17/CRP.1 as a conference room paper. In this context, I'm very pleased to introduce this document, which reports on the progress made to date in the implementation of the Communication Plan, the successes and the challenges of the biennium. This conference room paper provides an overview of the activities undertaken by the Secretariat and presents a forecast of the intended focus of communications activities for 2027-2028. In addition to the information contained in document ICCD/COP17/INF/4, titled Report on the Performance of Convention Institutions and Subsidiary Bodies 2025-2026. The present document, CRP1, presents progress in the implementation of the decision 4/COP15, which outlines the work carried out in the implementation of the communication plan, highlighting various campaigns and outreach activities, including yearly desertification and drought day observances. It further provides background information on ongoing media outreach and digital engagement, as well as efforts to mobilize new and influential voices in support of the Convention. This document contains additional information on the planned focus of communications activities in the next biennium. It should be further underscored that the vast majority of the communications activities carried out by the Secretariat are funded through voluntary contributions and I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the generous support from Parties and other partners in this area. Finally, it should be noted that in the absence of a specific mandate from COP16, the Secretariat has not prepared any elements of a draft decision for the Parties' consideration on this agenda item. The COP is therefore invited to consider the information on the status of implementation of UNCCD Communication Plan as contained in document ICCD/COP17/CRP.1 and take further actions as appropriate. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of the secretariat. I now open the floor in connection with the notes which has been just introduced. So delegation wishing to take the floor are invited to press the microphone button and I kindly request speakers to keep their treatment brief so we can hear from as many speaker as possible to help speakers with time managements. In the view of limited time we have, a timer is shown on the screen is set to three minutes for national statement and five minutes for regional statements. I give the floor to European Union.

COP17 President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates and representatives. The European Union and its member states recognize the essential role of the UNCCD communication activities in effectively reaching a broader audience, promoting awareness and understanding on desertification, land degradation and drought, as well as the scientific knowledge built by works of the UNCCD. The European Union and its 27 member states thank the Secretariat for providing information on the review of progress in the implementation of the UN CCD communication plan. We also thank the Secretariat for specifically referencing linkages to communication activities set out in other background documents related to the broader COP17 agenda. This highlights the importance of the communications plan in supporting the mandate of the UNCCD by raising the visibility of land issues on political and public agendas. We welcome the continued increase in media and social media reach, the significant increase in website visits, as well as the further expansion of UNCCD communication and outreach activities to a broader non-English speaking audience, We acknowledge the role of the UNCCD land and goodwill ambassadors in providing their support and advocacy behind key UNCCD events and outreach activities, including the Her Land campaign on women's land rights. We also welcome the specific efforts in engaging with women and youth and promoting success stories, as well as the efforts to engage more broadly with pastoralists in the year of rangelands and pastoralists, including via the Silk Road Caravan Campaign. We further encourage the Secretariat to build upon this focus to other priority audiences, including policy makers, line ministries in charge of land-based sectors, the civil society organizations and the private sector, including landowners, land managers and smallholder farmers. We welcome the innovative efforts to reach broader audiences, including by linking communications to major international sporting events, including the African Cup of Nations and World Cup. In the European Union and its member states view, it is essential to systematically incorporate gender awareness raising into the trainings and capacity building activities. As regards the direction of communication activities for the next biennium, the EU and its member states would like to stress the following priorities. It is crucial that the core of the UNCCD activities, including its communication, remain on implementing the UNCCD 2018-2030 strategic framework in its entirety and fulfilling ambitions for the achievement of LDN and drought resilience, focusing on promoting existing science-based work initiatives and action on the ground. We further support the mobilization of scientific and technical data, including information and policy recommendations from the science policy interface, the Global Land Outlook, the Economics of Land Degradation Initiative, the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies, and other major scientific assessments. In light of this year's triple COPs, the European Union and its member states strongly advocate for communication activities in coordination with climate change and biodiversity communities and providing a consistent message with the other Rio conventions with a view to ensuring synergies and maximum benefit in achieving shared objectives. We welcome reference to these synergies in the note published by the Secretariat. In light of the challenging budgetary situation, in our view, it is essential that the budget dedicated to communication activities and outreach does not negatively impact the available budget for the core activity of the convention. We hence believe available resources in the secretariat should be focused on the most effective communication tools in terms of audience reached relative to the costs incurred, should capitalize on the initiatives and resources already developed, and remain closely linked to the overall narrative on LDN. to safeguard consistent, clear and coherent messaging about the convention. We recall that outcome eight on the UNCCD results framework as contained in the annex to COP16 decision one relates to a bigger profile for the UNCCD on the global agenda through strategic communications and note the proposed increase in allocation to the program of communications, external relations and partnerships compared to the approved budget for this program in 2025 to 2026. We would like to stress the importance of transparency in relation to ongoing implementation of the communications plan and associated expenditure, both in relation to associated human resources and overall program spend. We therefore would welcome the opportunity for further updates on the implementation of the communications plan at future sessions of the COP in relation to the integrated budget under the agenda item on the work program and budget for the biennium. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of European Union. I have just one request for the floor from civil society, but before I want to make sure if there are any other member states that want to take the floor. I give the floor to Timor Leste.

Thank you, thank you, Mr. Che. Timor Leste recognize the important role of ranchlands and grazing landscape in supporting food security, livestock production, rural livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. For Timor-Leste, the discussion on rangelands is particularly relevant to our smallholder livestock system and the sustainable management of rural landscape. We believe that land restoration should be pursued together with improved livestock productivity, sustainable grazing practices, water management, and the strengthening of rural livelihoods. Timor-Leste support an inclusive community-based approach in which farmers, livestock keepers, local communities, women, and youth meaningfully involved in planning, implementing, and monitoring land restoration and sustainable land management. Local knowledge should be combined with appropriate scientific and technical knowledge. We also emphasize the importance of integrating range land management with drought resilience, climate adaptation, forestry, agriculture and food security policies. For developing countries such as Timor-Leste, access to technical assistance, capacity building, technology and predictable financing will be essential to translate global commitments into practical action on the ground. Timor-Leste therefore supports strengthening international cooperation on sustainable management and restoration of rangeland while ensuring that approach remain consistent with the national circumstances, priorities and institutional capacities. Thank you, Mr. Jay.

I thank the representative of Timor-Leste. Are there any other intervention connected with this agenda item, communication plan? I see no more request for the floor. I will give now the floor to civil society. 276.

Thank you, Chair, distinguished delegates. Civil society welcomes the review of the implementation of the communication plan and the initiative in bringing this review to the COP17 agenda, seeing this as an opportunity to strengthen delivery of the existing mandate under decision 5/COP16. We would like to emphasize the importance of continuing to engage civil society organizations in the effective implementation of the communication plan at all levels, particularly at the national and subnational levels. We as civil society are essential partners in raising awareness, mobilizing action, and connecting global commitments with local realities. To maximize this contribution, we call on parties to consider the following recommendations. First, enable civil society organizations or CSOs to become active partners in communication by strengthening their access to information and ensuring the availability of relevant information. training opportunities and communication resources in accessible formats, including indigenous and local languages, and offline or low connectivity channels, as well as investing in capacity building. Our second recommendation, support a consistent and compelling narrative on the value of healthy land. one in which good practices and success stories are told by the peoples and communities that generated them, thus highlighting the contribution of sustainable land management and restoration to the interconnected challenges of sustainable development. Third recommendation, amplify the engagement and involvement of CSOs in impactful communication campaigns in the fight against disinformation. thus contributing to positioning the UNCCD as a trusted source of information and showcasing successful implementation, including showcasing locally led solutions and successful partnerships between state and non-state actors. Civil society, in particular indigenous peoples and local communities, can play a central role in extending the reach and credibility of these efforts within affected communities themselves. Finally, our fourth and final recommendation to support the mobilization of new and influential voices and the strengthening of the UNCCD's various caucuses, including the indigenous peoples and local communities caucuses as structural channels or vehicles for sustained communication. Distinguished delegates, effective communication is a strategic tool for accelerating implementation. achieving the objectives of the UNCCD requires informed and engaged societies that understand the value of healthy land and are empowered to act. Thank you very much indeed.

I thank the representative of civil society. Now we have more requests for the floor. I give the floor to Bangladesh, but I want to make sure if it's in connection with that agenda item, with communication plan.

Go ahead please um dear Mr. chair and distinguished delegates we commend the executive secretary and the communication team for achieving unprecedented Global reach during this reporting cycle the 161% surge in media engagement during desertification and drought day 2026 The tripling of digital platform users to 2.4 million and the creative resonance of the support for land campaign demonstrate that land degradation is finally gaining the high level geopolitical visibility it demands. Mr. Chair, Bangladesh is a nation defined by water and land. We are an active delta where around 180 million people thrive on compact land mass of over 14 million hectares for Bangladesh. Land degradation, desertification, and drought are not distant academic concepts. They are immediate disruptions to human dignity and national development. When the support for land campaign reminds us that the world loses four football fields of healthy land every second, in Bangladesh, that statistic wears a human face. It is felt in our northern barren tract where creeping drought bakes fertile land, soils, and threatens rice production. It is felt along our 710 kilometer coastlines where rising sea seas push destructive salinity kilometers inland sterilizing agricultural fields and it is felt along our surging Rivers where erosion stripes nearly 100,000 citizens of their homes and farms every single year If our global communications are to achieve their true intent, they must directly serve these frontline communications. In this spirit, Bangladesh offers three core priorities for the 2027-2028 communications focus. First, science to street localizations. We welcome the secretariat's expansion along official UN languages. However, science must speak the language of the tailor and the pastoralist. We call on the secretariat to partner with national institutions to translate science policy interface, SPI research and global land outlook data into regional languages and low bandwidth mobile advisories that empower smallholders, farmers on the ground. Second, empowering the backbone of the restoration, women and the youth. Bangladesh warmly comments the Heartland Initiative in our delta, women form the primary backbone of rural agricultural adaptation, securing women's land rights directly accelerates food security. Furthermore, following the conclusion of the Land for Life program in 2025, we must not leave the youth leadership underfunded. We are the creation of institutionalized financing mechanisms to support youth land heroes and climate inventors, innovators across the global south. third financial predictability for digital infrastructure as web traffic triples and digital threats grow communication can no longer rely on uncertain voluntary donations we advocate for integrating core communications operations cyber security and outers infrastructure into the regular UNCCD budget allocations thank you Mr. chair.

I thank the representative of Bangladesh now I give the floor to Iraq Iraq, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the name of God Almighty, ladies and gentlemen, peace be upon you all. In this, the distinguished forum, we stress the importance of international cooperation to face environmental challenges and climate challenges that directly affect the lives of the affected communities and their stability and future. The Republic of Iraq is one of the countries that is facing growing challenges in drought, desertification, and land degradation, as well as transnational sandstorms. gives due attention to the implementation of the UNCCD and supports international efforts to put an end to land degradation and to achieve LDN and putting an end to sandstorm in order to achieve sustainable development and the priorities of combating climate change. Land degradation in Iraq is a complex national challenge. For example, the scarcity of land, droughts, the rise in temperatures, and the decline in the vegetation cover and the increasing challenges that we are facing. We hence stress on the importance of rehabilitation of land, degraded land and to restore ecosystems and to apply an early warning system and to use scientific information and data to inform decision making. We stress the importance of pastoral lands as an integral part of the land management system. Regarding the success and progress achieved in implementing the UNCCD, we coordinate between national authorities and implement projects and programs that are related to desertification, land degradation, and drought, and to to benefit from international indicators that help with LDN. In this respect, the priority of Iraq nationally is to restore degraded land and to improve water and land management and to protect grasslands and to support local communities and to build capacities as well as transfer of technology. We give due attention to communication and coordination between national focal points and relevant authorities in order to follow up on the implementation of the UNCCD and as well as the channels of communication and partnership so that the agenda reflects the challenges that are faced by the most affected countries that are affected by sandstorms, land degradation, desertification, and drought. We call on the importance of capacity building, transfer of technology, and technical and financial support and cooperation between parties, international organization and whoever is ready to cooperate in order to put the objectives of the UNCCD into effect and into practical opportunities to improve water and land management. We stress that LDN is not only an environmental objective, but it is also the problem and the challenge of our times. Hence, we need to invest in stability and sustainable development for all. Thank you very much and may the peace of God be upon you all.

I want just to kindly request speakers to keep their statements brief. Time is set for three minutes for national statements and five minutes for regional statements. I give the floor now to Thailand.

Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, the delegation of Thailand wish at the outset to convey our sincere appreciation to the government and people of Mongolia for their gracious hospitality and the excellent arrangements made in hosting COP17 here in Ulaanbaatar. Thailand thanks the Secretariat for the latest report and comments the progress made in raising global awareness through this education and drought day, the still load caravan and the mobilization of goodwill ambassador and support for land campaigns. At the national level, Thailand's Land Development Department observe the Desertification and Drought Day alongside World Soil Day each year. Breaking through our volunteer soil doctor network, a nationwide network of farmer volunteers who publish scientific knowledge on sustainable land management with communities at the village level. Our experience showed that global campaigns achieve the greatest impact when paired with certain grassroots level outreach. In this light, Thailand offers three brief suggestions for the 2027 to 2028 communication focus. First, complement global campaigns with support for local and community-based outreach mechanisms in parties, particularly farmer and volunteer networks. Second, ensure the communication plan continues to elevate soil health as a core message linked to LDN, an area where Thailand, together with the Global Soil Partnership and FAO, is actively advancing the purpose you indicate on soil health 2031 to 2040. Third, strengthening student train engagement with youth, women and vulnerable groups by building lasting links between the land heath love network and national youth platforms. Thailand student lady to share the experience and good practice in comedy based communication with fellow parties. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of Thailand. Now I give the floor to Haiti.

Madame, Monsieur.

Delegates, ladies and gentlemen, for several years, Haiti has been collaborating in implementing the COP agenda and we welcome the progress underway under the convention. Today, we reassert the fact that we are ready to collaborate, to implement the agreed agenda which meets current needs. In this context, from the Secretariat, we will call for innovative mechanisms adapted to local levels which really facilitate reliable communication between the different parties. We reiterate our commitment to carry on with negotiations at different levels on reshaping work with civil society, with indigenous groups and women's groups in particular. Thank you very much, Chair.

I thank the representative of Haiti. Now I will give the floor to the last speaker, which is Philippines.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Philippine welcomes the progress made in strengthening the communication and outreach of the convention, particularly the emphasis on science-based information and engagement with farmers, local communities, women, and youth. For an archipelagic and culturally diverse country such as the Philippines, with communities geographically dispersed across many islands, credible, accessible, and timely communication is particularly important. This is especially true for our farmers and communities on the ground, who are not only recipient of the information, but are among the main actors in translating policies and programs into action. We therefore believe that communication should not only raise public awareness and understanding of desertification, land degradation, and drought, but also enabled informed action. Scientific and technical information should be timely, understandable and locally appropriate and where appropriate communicated in local languages while maintaining consistent and coherent messaging that promotes a common understanding of the Convention and its objectives. In the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture complements digital platforms and strengthened media presence, including traditional channels such as radio and television with on the ground information caravans and direct farmer level extension in information services, bringing technical knowledge, technologies, and government programs closer to communities. Moving forward, we encourage continued strengthening of the science to practice approach, recognizing national and local contexts so that credible, accessible, and timely communication contributes not only to the visibility of the convention, but more importantly, to inform the action, sustainable land management, and drought resilience on the ground. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the representative of Philippines. I see no further request to speak. I now give the floor to Madam Scanlon of UNCC secretariat to react to the discussion we had.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and to all the parties, we very much welcome the statements and will be ready to answer questions and provide additional information in the contact groups.

I thank the representative of UCCD Secretariat. I propose that further discussion on that agenda item be taken up in the CAU contact groups. I hear no objection, it's so decided. I now invite the committee to consider agenda item eight, C entitled programme of work for the 18th session of the Conference of Parties. Under this item, the Committee has before it documents ICCD/COP17/12. Delegation may recall that at its first meeting on 17 August, the Committee had allocated the programme of work for the 18th session of the Conference of parties. including the dates and venue of that session to contact the group two on other matters. In this regard, I urge the contact group to begin and conclude its deliberations in a timely manner in order to allow the committee to act on these issues at its final plenary. Are there any delegations wishing to make a statement under this sub-item? European Union, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, COP17 President. Sorry about that, thanks for your patience. COP17 President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates and representatives, We thank you and the input of all delegates in discussions and negotiations to date in the essential matters before us. As the EU and its member states have previously outlined, we have been and do remain in favour of adopting provisional agenda for COP17 in its entirety. We note that a number of items on the provisional COP17 agenda remain unadopted. The EU and its member states consider that it is essential that work continues on all these important issues in a spirit of open dialogue and multilateralism whereby different views and opinions of parties are addressed in negotiations. We look forward to the opportunity at COP18 to take forward items agreed or concluded at COP17 as well as items currently unadopted, noting previous decisions of the COP on these items. In the year of the triple Rio Cops, having seen the continued impacts of drought, land degradation and desertification across the world, we believe we are presented with an opportunity which we must grasp to continue to make progress on all items of importance related to the implementation of the Convention. This synergistic approach is a necessary step to addressing in an effective, efficient and mutually reinforcing way the intersecting environmental crises facing the global community whilst avoiding competition or duplication between efforts. At this COP so far, we have heard the voices and concerns of civil society organisations, local communities, indigenous peoples, women and girls, pastoralists and many other key groups and stakeholders. It is essential to strengthen partnerships and engage a diverse array of stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society organisations, children and youth, pastoralists, indigenous peoples, local communities, women and girls, people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups across all levels, from community and local to regional, national and global scales, while also valorising local and traditional knowledge. We propose adding an agenda item on the effectiveness and efficiency of processes. We think there is scope to learn from experiences at this COP, as well as under other multilateral environmental agreements, which can help us to do our important work in a more effective and efficient way, leading to stronger outcomes for the UNCCD. This should be an inclusive process with due engagement of parties. As we begin to think ahead beyond COP17, we must ensure we see continued progress on the next future strategic framework, work on gender, addressing synergies with other conventions, and the participation of civil society, as well as all matters. Thank you.

I thank the representative of European Union. Are there any other member states that want to take the floor? Brazil.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this topic, and we align ourselves with the concerns about the agenda adopted on COP17, in which several items of fundamental importance to the effective implementation of the Convention were excluded. We believe that the agenda approved by consensus at COP16 is not merely a matter of substance, but also a matter of legitimacy of the decisions taken by parties at COPs. As we prepare the agenda for COP18, Brazil considers it essential to ensure that the substantive issues that could not be considered at COP17 are given the opportunity to be addressed. This includes in particularly issues related to the participation of civil society, indigenous people and local communities, gender and cooperation, synergies with other Rio conventions. These are not marginal matters, but elements at the core of the convention mentioned in several paragraphs. We truly hope that with this program of work for the COP18, we'll be able to restore confidence in our collective capacity to conduct our work through inclusive, transparent and agreed process. Brazil, in the spirit of updating the debate within the UNCCD with modalities and approach that strengthen the mandate of the convention to combat desertification, proposed inclusion of the agenda item bioeconomy and its opportunities to combat desertification and mitigates the effects of drought. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Brazil. I give now the floor to civil society representative.

Thank you, Chair. Civil society, indigenous people, and local communities strongly reject any attempt to restrict, weaken, or roll back civil society participation in the program of work for COP17 and COP18. Such a restriction fully represents a clear regression from commitment and practice that parties have built over time. Participation is not optional under this convention. Civil society's place in the COP program of work was established by decision five of COP9 in 2009, and reaffirmed most recently through the 5 of COP16, which called for continued engagement with indigenous people, local communities, rural population, women, youth and persons with disabilities. We will come to the proposed COP9 agenda. 18 programme of work maintains civil society participation as a standing agenda item and provides for open dialogue session. This page must be preserved as written, including participation in contact group and the coordination role of the CIO panels. We urge parties to ensure meaningful participation of indigenous people, local communities, particularly women and youth throughout the COP18 programme of work and to adopt a decision of term of reference for the caucus for indigenous people and caucus for local communities. Those most affected by desertification, land degradation and drought bring essential knowledge, experience and solutions. Existing barriers, including accreditation, limited resources, language and short negotiation timelines should be addressed, not compounded by further restrictions. Negotiation requires engagement, dialogue and willingness to seek agreement. Progress in participation has contributed to more inclusive, appropriate and effective policies as must not be reserved. As this convention must towards its post 2030 framework, meaningful participation should not be expanded, not narrow. Those whose land, right, livelihood and future are at stake cannot remain at the margin of decision making. Meaningful participation is essential to the legitimacy, effectiveness and implementation of this convention. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of civil society. I see no more requests for the floor. I now invite the representative of UNCC secretariats to react to discussion we had in connection with that agenda item. I propose that further discussion on that agenda item be taken up in the CAU contact group two. I hear no objection, it's so decided. This brings us to the end of today's deliberations. The next meeting of the Committee of the Whole is scheduled for Tuesday 25 August at 3pm in the Plenary Hall. For further information, please consult the Daily Journal of UNCCD website and UNCCD application for mobile phones. The Contact Group on other matters starts at 14:30 in MET 11. The meeting is adjourned.