Tom Horyn’s Post

https://lnkd.in/dzMuSQC8 Zimbabwe joined the international community on June 17th in commemorating Desertification and Drought Day. The nation’s Agricultural Minister, Dr. Anxious Masuka, issued a stark warning: Up to 17% of Zimbabwe’s land could become barren by 2050 due to persistent droughts. Minister Masuka emphasized the urgency of implementing drought mitigation measures. In the district of Umzingwane, Matabeleland South, as much as 34% of the land faces desertification by 2050 if preventative actions aren’t taken.

𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗾 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲-𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 The head of Iraq's Strategic Center for Human Rights, Fadel Al-Gharawi, revealed that the country is losing 100,000 dunams of land annually due to the combined effects of climate change, desertification, and drought. Speaking to local news outlets, Al-Gharawi explained that desertified land now encompasses around 27 million dunams, or 15% of Iraq’s total area. Furthermore, 55% of the country is at risk of desertification, while vegetation cover has drastically reduced from 50% to just 17%. Citing data from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), he noted that Iraq’s forests now cover only 8,250 square kilometers, amounting to just 2% of the nation’s total area. Al-Gharawi attributed the sharp decline in vegetation to extreme weather events, sandstorms, reduced rainfall, and global warming. He warned that the shrinking vegetation cover has contributed to rising pollution levels, which are directly affecting public health and posing a serious threat to food security. In response, Al-Gharawi urged the government, local authorities, institutions, and citizens to initiate a national campaign to plant 15 billion climate-resilient trees over the next decade to combat the critical loss of vegetation. #Iraq #climatechange #desertification #waterscarcity

Talking Energy and Climate Finance It was a great honor discussing Zambia’s current energy crisis with Mary Mwiikisa in ZNBC TV1 Climate Check. In my discussion, I highlighted the challenges of balancing and attaining developing goals during times of multiple crisis. The 2024 energy crisis has come at a time when Zambia is still grappling with the effects the covid-19 pandemic, high external debt, high inflation, and the impact of geopolitical tension (Russia-Ukraine war) on global commodity and grain prices, and oil. Adaptation to climate change Muta happen at both national and household level. At national level, diversification of the energy mix is key. Over reliance on drought-prone hydro will always lead to energy crises. Diversifying electrify generation sources, to include solar, woll increase the country’s resilience. At household level, use of alternative energies such as solar geysers and LPG gas for cooking is important for attaining energy security and efficiency.

Last year when I suffered damages such as this in my 10 acres farm in the Northern part of Uganda. I became frustrated and took a leaf to Kampala to spend the whole Christmas season writing essays and documening each step of progress and shortcoming encountered in the farm. Hope to release the documentary someday. There was no better way to heal and recover than to join the fight of combating the Climate Change crisis hence fueled the passion to join Columbia Climate School to help farmers like him 😄. I know farming is like a betting industry in Africa due to Climate crisis but how long can we keep it that way? #climatechangeisreal #supportSHF #combatclimatechange.

"🌾 What Kenyan Farmers Want Us to Know 🌾 Kenyan farmers are at the forefront of agricultural innovation and resilience, but they need our partnership, not just aid. While CGIAR has funding to support farmers, they emphasize a crucial point: work with us, not just for us. Kenya has over 300 varieties of corn, yet communities are only using a small fraction of them. Desertification is one of the biggest challenges farmers are facing, along with climate change. When drought hits, nothing grows—and new crop varieties are often vulnerable to changing weather patterns. Farmers know their land best, and they want to be part of the solution. They’re asking for collaboration, not top-down decisions. They want to share what works best for their communities. Together, we can help farmers develop more resilient practices and ensure their voices are heard. Let’s work together on the ground, side by side, for a sustainable future. 🌍💚 #KenyanFarmers #ClimateResilience #Desertification #SustainableFarming #AgricultureInnovation #Collaboration"

Marioldy Sánchez Santivañez (AIDER Perú and GEO-LDN Team Peru member) delivered inclusive recommendations by civil society organizations (CSO) to build drought resilience at #COP16Riyadh. Here are some of the recommendations by CSOs: ⏺️ Commit to concrete actions that support women, small scale farmers, indigenous people and pastoral communities to reduce their vulnerabilities to drought. ⏺️ Ensure better information sharing and budget and allocation monitoring with regards to drought preparedness. CSOs urged parties to fight drought and increase resilience of vulnerable communities and sectors during the Open Dialogue Session at #COP16Riyadh last December 5. They emphasized a way of addressing this issue: by relying on community-led water management. "The principles of agroecology adapted by FAO provide a soundframework to guide these transformations in a holistic and integrated way. To further build drought resilience, we must transform the way we manage water, by relying more on community led management." #UNited4Land UN Convention to Combat Desertification

🌍 The Nivaĉle municipality of Ajoicucat – Mistolar, in #Paraguay, confronts a myriad of challenges that undermine the communities’ access to clean drinking water: 🌳 #Deforestation and fragmentation of the dry forests, leading to a reduction in the water level of the Pilcomayo River; ☀ Recurrent periods of #drought, and 💧 Loss of sections of indigenous #territories with access to the Pilcomayo River. Women, who traditionally bear the responsibility of water provision for their families, are disproportionately affected, often having to transport drinking water over long distances from communal cisterns to their homes several times a day. In response, BluoVerda Deutschland e.V. and #TierraLibre take proactive measures to enhance water availability in the most vulnerable areas of the community. You can read more about the project on our website  https://lnkd.in/e5addMGN This project is funded by the Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken with financial support from the BMZ #WaterScarcity #IndigenousCommunities #ClimateChange #SocialImpact #EnvironmentalSustainability

STATEMENT BY THE SADC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM SECRETARY GENERAL ON WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT, 17 JUNE 2024 Dear Parliamentarians, Colleagues, and Partners, It is an honour to address you on this World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2024, observed under the theme: “United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future.” Today, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and emphasize the urgent need for sustainable land stewardship in the SADC region. Desertification and drought are critical challenges for our region, threatening food security, water availability, and livelihoods. The SADC PF is committed to supporting parliaments in developing measures to track and mitigate drought vulnerability, strengthening relevant institutions, and promoting sustainable land management through legislative and oversight functions. Collaboration is essential. We must engage communities, civil society, the private sector, and international partners to address the root causes of desertification and drought. Sustainable agricultural practices, reforestation, and water conservation are vital, as is raising awareness about these issues. As we reflect on three decades of progress under the UNCCD, let us also recognize the work ahead. The theme “United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future” reminds us that our actions today shape the legacy for future generations. I urge all member parliaments and partners to redouble their efforts in combating desertification and drought. Read the full statement here: https://lnkd.in/dr4rX93k Yours faithfully, H.E. Boemo Sekgoma SECRETARY GENERAL, SADC PF #UnitedForLand #SustainableFuture #SADCPF 🌱

🏜 Have you ever wondered that nearly 40% of the Earth's land area is already classified as degraded? ⁉ On #WorldDayToCombatDesertification and #Drought, it's essential to recognize that desertification results in the loss of vegetation, decreased soil fertility, and increased soil erosion. This phenomenon significantly impacts agricultural output, contributing to food insecurity, poverty, and even displacement of populations. This day serves as a reminder of the urgent global need to take action against #landdegradation. Emphasizing sustainable land management practices, effective water conservation, and enhancing drought resilience are crucial steps toward safeguarding the environment for present and future generations. #DesertificationDay #CombatDesertification #WorldDayToCombatDesertification #Drought #SustainableLandManagement #ClimateAction #GlobalGoals 📷 SIOI

Africa's drylands are degrading, pushing farmers and communities into poverty. But hope is growing. Restoring and protecting ecosystems is essential to tackle the #ClimateCrisis. It will secure the future for the millions of people who depend on land and forests for food and income. This film shows how Trees for the Future is empowering farmers to transform their land and fight climate change with the creation of forest gardens. We're proud to be an actor for the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. Find out more about how we contribute 👇 https://lnkd.in/d67b4uk UN Environment Programme