United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD) is a plan to stop desertification and reduce the effects of lack of water in the action programs of countries. The plan uses long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.
It fully launched in December 1996. It is the only international body in the world with legal power trying to stop people from destroying forests.
To help make UNCCD and its strategies popular, 2006 was declared "International Year of Deserts and Desertification".
Ibrahim Thiaw has been the Under Secretary General of the United Nations and UNCCD Executive Secretary since 2019.
State parties.
All UN member states, the Cook Islands, Niue, and the State of Palestine. have agreed to be part of the UNCCD.
On 28 March 2013, Canada left the UNCCD but joined again on 21 December 2016, and was officially part of the UNCCD again on 21 March 2017.
Conference of the Parties.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) ensures that action is taken on the plans of UNCCD. The first five sessions of the COP were held annually from 1997 to 2001. From 2001 sessions were held every two years.