13 October 2015•Update: 13 October 2015
ANKARA
UN will set up a $2 billion fund for private investors to balance land degradation across the world, a senior official of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification has said.
Addressing a press conference at the 12th session of the convention’s Conference of Parties in the Turkish capital Ankara Monday, Monique Barbut, the convention’s executive secretary, said: “A desirable future needs all parties of the convention to work together. If we see the balance of the land degradation as our main target, we should develop serious strategies for the next 15 years”.
About the $2 billion fund for private investors to balance land degradation, Barbut said that the fund would be transferred to healthy and sustainable production systems.
Uahekua Herunga, Namibia’s environment and tourism minister, said that fighting against drought and desertification was as important as combatting terrorism.
Herunga urged all stakeholders to take serious actions against desertification.
"Namibia will continue to implement the convention with the same determination. Today, we have a new mission. This mission is to prevent the degradation of agricultural lands around the world," he added.
Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner of the event, which runs until Oct. 23 at the Ankara Congresium international convention and exhibition center.
According to UN, more than 250 million people around the world are affected by desertification and a further 1.2 billion in 110 countries are threatened.
