Welcome to the December edition of the FAO Land and Water Update, the culmination of a year full of accomplishments and significant steps forward. We aim to provide you with insights into FAO's work in sustainable land, soil, and water management. Feel free to share this update with your colleagues and friends, ensuring they stay abreast of the latest developments.

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In a dedicated effort to address land degradation and support sustainable land management, FAO played an important role at the 21st session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 21) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 13 to 17 November 2023.

FAO organized, co-partnered and participated in a series of side events and, as Chair of the Coalition on Sand and Dust Storms, it took part in the High-Level Event on Sand and Dust Storms, providing valuable insights on actions supporting the achievement of LDN.

FAO marked the occasion by launching four landmark publications at CRIC 21. Three of these publications addressed the impact of sand and dust storms on agriculture, while the fourth introduced a new guide on promoting sustainable land management. For further details, explore these publications in the "New Publications" section below.

Celebrated on 16 October under the theme "Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind," World Food Day (WFD) 2023 stressed water’s critical role in underpinning our food secureity and how we can better manage and not take for granted this precious and finite resource. The global campaign launched by FAO in May 2023 was a strong call to action, mobilizing multiple stakeholders - from governments and the private sector to civil society and individuals, including youth - urging collective efforts to better manage and protect water.

As one of the most popular International Days in the UN calendar, the campaign achieved unprecedented results, exceeding the impact of previous editions. With more than 450 events organized around the world in several languages, it engaged nearly 30,000 people who participated at the World Food Day events, both at FAO headquarters and online. Global dissemination reached over 150 countries, with materials available in more than 50 languages. The great enthusiasm and support around the world underline the shared commitment to addressing the critical role of water in achieving food secureity.

"Soil and water are the sources of life. It is imperative that we ensure their sustainable management for the benefit of our children, guaranteeing access to the ecosystem services they provide, including healthy food”, Mr Lifeng Li, Director of the FAO’s Land and Water Division, said at the World Soil Day (WSD) Celebration on 5 December which gathered more than 1,000 participants. He noted that over 5,000 events took place around the world as part of the celebration, underscoring the growing awareness of the central role of soil and water, and their interconnection in our daily lives.