COP17 GREEN ZONE

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The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be hosted by Mongolia in its capital, Ulaanbaatar, from 17 to 28 August 2026, under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.”

COP17 will bring together delegates from all 197 UNCCD Parties, alongside leaders from government, business, and civil society, as well as scientists, youth, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, and smallholder farmers. The conference will serve as a global platform to address the interconnected challenges of desertification, land degradation, and drought.

Restoring land is not only an environmental priority – it is a strategic imperative to reduce instability, prevent displacement, and strengthen human and national security in vulnerable regions.

Mongolia: A Key Pillar of the World’s Rangeland Ecosystem

With a vast territory of 1.56 million km², Mongolia is among the countries most severely affected by desertification and land degradation, with nearly 77% of its land degraded.

Hosting UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar will bring critical global attention to land restoration priorities, highlighting solutions that protect livelihoods, strengthen food security, and preserve ecosystems across dryland regions.

Blue and Green Zones

Green Zone

Located adjacent to the Blue Zone, the COP17 Green Zone will serve as an open global platform that brings together steppe and rangeland ecosystems, pastoralist knowledge, modern innovation, and collaboration across government, the private sector, and the public.

The Green Zone will host side events, forums, conference halls, and an innovation exhibition showcasing global green technologies and sustainable solutions.

At the same time, it will offer delegates and visitors a unique opportunity to experience Mongolia’s history, culture, nomadic heritage, and traditional rangeland knowledge—creating a space where global solutions connect with Mongolia’s living heritage.

Blue Zone

Coordinated under the UNCCD framework, the Blue Zone will serve as the official negotiation space of COP17, accessible exclusively to accredited delegates.

It will host formal negotiations, high-level ministerial and leaders’ meetings, as well as national and thematic pavilions representing participating countries and international organizations.

This is where global policies and collective decisions on land degradation, desertification, drought resilience, and sustainable rangeland management will be shaped.

Green Zone Overview

Opportunities

Green Zone

The COP17 Green Zone will serve as the primary open platform for participants to showcase solutions in land restoration, sustainable rangeland management, and climate resilience on a global stage—while directly engaging with decision-makers and unlocking opportunities for partnerships and investment.

It is a space where innovation, dialogue, and action converge, turning ideas and commitments into tangible outcomes.

Hosted in Ulaanbaatar, the Green Zone will bring together businesses, governments, academic institutions, civil society, pastoralist communities, youth, and cultural stakeholders in a dynamic and immersive environment. More than an event, the Green Zone represents a global movement for land restoration, resilience, and renewed hope.

Join us at the COP17 Green Zone, where innovation meets action, and together, we can pave the way for a sustainable and resilient future.

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Participation Intent Approval Process

Submit Expression of Interest

Submit your application through the official platform

Initial Screening

Applications are reviewed by the organizing committee.

Detailed Evaluation

Shortlisted candidates undergo a comprehensive review.

Final Selection

Approved participants are selected and formally notified.

Confirmation of Participation

Selected participants confirm their participation to secure their place.