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Civil society is continuing its mobilization at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), with a particular focus on community-based solutions for land restoration, territorial resilience and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).Against this backdrop, a side event dedicated to “Value Chains for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)” is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Room MET-03 at the COP17 venue in Ulaanbaatar.Bringing together civil society actors, the event will showcase concrete experiences of community-led regenerative livelihood systems, as well as value chains capable of contributing to sustainable land restoration and the development of more resilient landscapes.The side event will provide an opportunity to share practical examples demonstrating how local communities can be at the heart of land restoration initiatives while developing sustainable economic activities.The approach places particular emphasis on the links between ecosystem restoration, livelihoods, value chains and climate resilience. It seeks to move beyond land restoration efforts focused solely on ecological interventions by promoting models capable of generating economic and social benefits for the populations directly concerned.This approach echoes concerns raised by several civil society organizations attending COP17, which are calling for greater consideration of community realities, local knowledge and grassroots experiences in policies aimed at combating desertification and land degradation.The mobilization of African civil society organizations is also a key issue at COP17.On the eve of the side event, several messages of support were addressed to Ellen Otaru-Okoedion and Abdoul Aziz, who are actively involved in representing African civil society at the conference.“We encourage you to represent us with dignity and effectiveness at COP17. Raise the voice of our Africa, defend our priorities and make the realities of our communities heard,” one message addressed to the African representatives said.These messages reflect the expectations surrounding the participation of African civil society in COP17 negotiations and dialogue platforms. The objective is to ensure that the concerns of communities directly affected by land degradation, drought, climate change and the erosion of livelihoods are heard.The side event will therefore serve as a platform for sharing experiences among organizations and stakeholders working on land restoration and the transformation of livelihood systems.Discussions are expected to highlight the conditions needed to develop sustainable value chains, strengthen local economies and foster more resilient landscapes.For civil society organizations, the challenge now is to ensure that international commitments on Land Degradation Neutrality translate into concrete action at the local level, with meaningful community participation and stronger support for grassroots initiatives.In Ulaanbaatar, civil society is thus emphasizing that land restoration cannot be separated from livelihoods and local economic development. This approach places communities at the heart of the transition towards more resilient territories and more sustainable value chains.Babaclimat – Journal Agropasteur