Uza. The FAO side event “Upgrading LDN implementation through Recarbonization of Soils (RECSOIL)” was organized on the margins of the 21st Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the UNCCD (CRIC21), taking place from 13 to 17 October 2023 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

The CRIC21 brought together more than 500 delegates from 196 countries, providing an excellent platform to address drought resilience, promote women’s land rights, and combat sand and dust storms and the countries’ progress in restoring productive land. At the CRIC21, FAO co-organizes and participates in a series of side events and the High-Level Event on Sand and Dust Storms, aiming to provide insights on actions supporting Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) achievement.

The FAO side event “Upgrading LDN implementation through Recarbonization of Soils (RECSOIL)” was organized in cooperation with the Global Soil Partnership, whose key objectives are to promote sustainable soil management and improve soil governance to guarantee healthy and productive soils and support the provision of essential ecosystem services towards food security and improved nutrition, climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as sustainable development.

During the side event, foreign experts made presentations about Soil Recarbonization’s role in the UNCCD implementation and synergies with the other Rio Conventions. The best practices of the Caribbean, Colombia, Türkiye, and Central Asia have been presented to a broad audience.

Muhammadjon Kosimov, National Manager of the Regional Project “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-prone and Salt-affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Türkiye” (CACILM2) in Uzbekistan, made a presentation on recarbonizing soils through the Soil Doctors program in the CACILM2project. Mr Kosimov highlighted challenges and opportunities for promoting Integrated Natural Resource Management in Uzbekistan.