Listening to the soils’ whispers

In Riyadh, a story of restoration and resilience quietly unfolded, reminding us that the world’s deserts are not just barren landscapes but places where hope and renewal can take root.

COP16, the largest gathering yet under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, saw nearly 200 nations converge with a shared purpose: to steward our lands more wisely and repair the scars that decades of environmental neglect have etched across the globe.

The numbers presented didn’t lie. Over the past thirty years, more than three-quarters of the Earth’s ice-free surface, some 77 per cent, has grown drier. Drylands now stretch across 40.6 per cent of our planet, having expanded by a staggering 4.3 million square kilometres; an area larger than India itself. These figures are not mere statistics; they represent a profound shift reshaping where we farm, how we eat, and how we plan for tomorrow, and the world rose to that challenge.

The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership alone accounted for $12.15 billion, targeting 80 of the world’s most vulnerable nations. The Great Green Wall, an audacious African-led initiative designed to restore degraded Sahelian landscapes, secured fresh momentum: Italy offered $11.5 million and Austria $3.7 million. Another $70 million went to the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils programme, an effort to cultivate climate-resilient food systems that can thrive where rainfall is scarce and seasons unpredictable.

Technological innovation was another defining note at COP16. Delegates introduced the International Drought Resilience Observatory, an AI-driven platform that doesn’t just track conditions, it actively analyses weather patterns, soil health, and water availability to predict droughts before they take hold. Such a system can give farmers and communities the precious resource of time: time to alter planting schedules, diversify crops, or secure alternative water sources.

Alongside this global platform, a new regional sand and dust storm monitoring system will deliver early warnings that could save crops, protect human health, and guide disaster response efforts. Think of it as a meteorological early-warning siren that helps communities brace against the worst nature can throw at them.

The Middle East, hosting its first UNCCD meeting, embraced its role as both a regional exemplar and a global contributor. Oman’s story offers a more detailed glimpse with a national plan to combat desertification already underway and a drive to plant 10 million trees, the country is not just restoring landscapes but reinventing its identity as a green, climate-forward Gulf state. The Green Oman Initiative’s aim for carbon neutrality by 2050 aligns global aspirations with domestic action, from selecting drought-resistant tree species to engaging local communities in greening efforts.

Of course, COP16 wasn’t a tale of unbroken success. The effort to establish a legally binding global drought protocol was postponed until COP17 in Mongolia, set for 2026. Such delays are a reminder that negotiations on environmental issues are often intricate dances involving politics, differing national interests, and the lingering inertia of the past. But even with this setback, the conference concluded with 39 decisions adopted, each one a building block toward healthier lands and stronger communities.

Reflecting on COP16, it becomes clear that this was not just a gathering of bureaucrats and specialists worrying over dust and data. It was a crossroads moment where we recognised that while landscapes will inevitably shift and climates will change, we hold the power to shape what emerges in their wake.

We have the means, through investments, innovations, ancient wisdom, and international cooperation, to turn a fragile, increasingly arid planet into one of renewal and abundance. The real question, as we set our sights on the journeys ahead, is whether we have the collective courage to do so.