UN Land Summit in Ulaanbaatar: COP17 of the UNCCD is underway in Mongolia’s capital under “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope,” with Mongolia urging a shift from talk to measurable action as 23,000 participants and hundreds of sessions roll on. Desertification Focus: UNCCD leaders warn that land degradation hits food, water, livelihoods and stability, with Mongolia’s 77% affected territory making rangelands and soils central to the talks. Mongolia’s Green Showcases: In the COP17 Green Zone, Mongolia opened the “Billions of Trees” pavilion (140+ million trees planted so far) and a Nature Pavilion tied to a revised protected areas law, while officials also met Ramsar’s secretary general to push tighter links between wetlands, drought and land restoration. Protected Areas Plan: A COP17 sub-session in Ulaanbaatar discussed how protected areas can reduce land degradation, improve management and unlock long-term financing. Global Pastoralist Push: Delegates from Kenya, Iran and Australia’s pastoralist groups pressed for herder-led decision-making, mobility rights and invasive species to be treated as a key degradation indicator. Mongolia in the Spotlight: Mongolia also reported a gold medal at the International Geography Olympiad and announced a London investment forum aimed at capital market reforms.