By B.Nandin

With 10 days to go before Mongolia hosts the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17), preparations have entered their final stage.

Held under the theme “Restore Nature, Revive Hope,” the conference is expected to bring together around 5,000 delegates from more than 190 countries to discuss some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges, including desertification, land degradation, drought, water scarcity and the sustainable management of grasslands.

As the final countdown to COP17 begins, Mongolia's preparations extend well beyond logistics. For the first time, the country is preparing to lead one of the world's largest environmental negotiations—a role that requires diplomacy, consensus-building and political leadership as much as conference management.

To strengthen this capacity, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UNCCD Secretariat and the Centre for Multilateral Negotiations (CEMUNE) have jointly launched an advanced closed-door training programme for Mongolia's COP17 negotiating team.

Unlike an ordinary host country, the COP presidency is expected to guide negotiations in a fair and impartial manner, facilitate dialogue among parties with differing positions and help build consensus on decisions that advance international efforts to combat desertification, land degradation and drought.

Opening the training, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Ts. Sandag-Ochir emphasized that the presidency carries responsibilities far beyond organizing the conference. He noted that the chair must strengthen mutual trust among parties, facilitate constructive negotiations and help move policy discussions toward practical outcomes.

The minister also highlighted that financing has become one of the most critical issues in global environmental negotiations. While many countries have ambitious plans to restore degraded land and improve water security, implementation continues to be constrained by limited financial resources. As COP17 President, Mongolia hopes to advance dialogue on mobilizing greater international support for land restoration and climate resilience.

The training programme draws on the expertise of CEMUNE, an independent non-profit organization that has supported governments chairing major multilateral negotiations, including previous UN climate conferences. The organization provides strategic advice on managing complex negotiations, balancing competing interests and improving the effectiveness of multilateral decision-making.

Mongolia also plans to present its national Grassland Plan, a long-term strategy centered on sustainable pasture management, integrated water and land management, and nature-based infrastructure.

The strategy proposes 292 projects requiring an estimated USD 6.5 billion in international financing. Beyond attracting investment, the government aims to expand scientific cooperation, strengthen drought forecasting systems, improve land monitoring through satellite technology and encourage innovation in sustainable land management.

Officials believe the conference could open opportunities for long-term environmental financing while helping Mongolia restore degraded ecosystems, improve pasture management and strengthen water security over the coming decade.

For Mongolia, COP17 is more than a major international gathering. It is an opportunity to place the realities of dryland countries, pastoral communities and climate-vulnerable ecosystems at the center of global environmental negotiations.

Around 77 percent of Mongolia's territory is estimated to be affected by some degree of land degradation, while approximately 80 percent is classified as grassland. Rising temperatures, more frequent droughts, severe winters known as dzud, declining vegetation and growing pressure on water resources are directly affecting livestock production, food security and rural livelihoods.

Hosting COP17 in a country facing these challenges will allow delegates to examine them not only through scientific reports and policy discussions, but also in the context of the people, landscapes and livelihoods most directly affected.

Why the Grassland Plan Matters

Mongolia's Grassland Plan took a step closer to the international stage this week after Foreign Minister B.Battsetseg presented the national strategic document to the Cabinet ahead of UNCCD COP17. The strategy will be officially introduced to the international community during the conference in Ulaanbaatar as Mongolia's flagship policy framework for addressing desertification and land degradation.

The plan is built around three pillars: the Flagship Grassland Initiative, integrated water and land management, and nature-based sustainable infrastructure. Together, these initiatives are designed to address the interconnected challenges of pasture degradation, water scarcity, climate change and rural development.

Under the strategy, Mongolia is seeking USD 6.5 billion in international financing for 292 projects supporting land restoration, improved pasture management, water conservation, climate-resilient infrastructure, scientific research and the introduction of new technologies. According to the government, successful implementation would help expand international cooperation, attract long-term investment and accelerate projects over the next decade.

For Mongolia, the strategy reflects far more than an environmental policy. Grasslands are often viewed simply as grazing areas, but they also sustain nomadic livelihoods, preserve biodiversity, store carbon, regulate water cycles and play a vital role in maintaining the country's ecological balance. Nearly 80 percent of Mongolia's territory is classified as grassland, making its protection central to both environmental sustainability and economic resilience.

At the same time, rising temperatures, declining vegetation and increasing soil moisture loss are accelerating land degradation, heightening the risks of desertification, dust storms and rural poverty. With around 77 percent of the country's land estimated to be affected by degradation, the government argues that restoring grasslands has become both an environmental and development priority.

By presenting the Grassland Plan at COP17, Mongolia hopes not only to secure international financing and technical cooperation, but also to position sustainable grassland management as a practical global response to desertification, climate change and sustainable rural development.

Source: Zuuniimedee № 146 (7888) August 7, 2026

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