The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Mongolia participated in the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It shared its work in sustainable agriculture, soil restoration, and community climate resilience.

Held under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” the convention brought together nearly 10,000 participants, including official delegates representing the UNCCD's 197 Parties, consisting of 196 countries and the European Union, as well as world leaders, civil society representatives, and visitors.

Throughout the conference, ADRA Mongolia participated in dialogues with senior leaders as well as side events and exhibitions. It highlighted its longstanding agricultural initiatives in Mongolia, including organic farming, soil restoration, and climate-adapted, nutrition-focused agricultural practices.

At sessions attended by government representatives, international organizations, sector experts, and local participants, ADRA Mongolia presented examples of organic soil management, capacity building for local farmers, and resilient agricultural value chains, emphasizing how these approaches can help address land degradation while supporting sustainable livelihoods in rural communities.

“Restoring our land is not merely an environmental task. It is an expression of our core values, showing compassion for vulnerable communities, embracing innovative solutions, and building cooperation across sectors to care for God’s creation,” ADRA Mongolia leadership said.

ADRA Mongolia also engaged with international delegates, multilateral donors, civil society leaders, and government representatives to explore opportunities for expanding climate resilience and sustainable land management. Side events gave local farmers, policymakers, and international participants opportunities to exchange perspectives on sustainable land stewardship and community development.

ADRA Mongolia has served communities across the country for more than 32 years through humanitarian and development initiatives. As an UN-accredited civil society organization, it carries out its work in line with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and humanity.

Following COP17, ADRA Mongolia plans to continue working alongside local farming communities to promote healthy soil, resilient communities, and sustainable livelihoods across Mongolia.

The original article was published on the Northern Asia-Pacific Division news site.