UNCCD’s Ibrahim Thiaw: Land, Power & the Race to Restore Our Future

In this episode, Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), discusses
the reality of land degradation—and the encouraging path to
restoration.


Why does this matter?


40% of the world’s land is already degraded, affecting nearly
half of humanity. Every year, we lose 100 million hectares—an
area the size of Egypt. If we continue like this, by 2050, we
will have lost land the size of South America.


Land degradation isn’t just an environmental crisis—it threatens
food security, fuels migration, and drives conflict.


So, who is taking responsibility for restoring our
planet’s most valuable resource?


But there is hope. From the Great Green Wall in Africa to China’s
Loess Plateau transformation, solutions exist—and they are
working.


️ What we discuss:
️ The real cost of land degradation—and how 50%
of global GDP depends on land and nature.
️ Who controls the land? The hidden
power structures behind global land ownership.
️ Proven solutions—from regenerative agriculture
to large-scale reforestation projects.
️ Success stories—including Africa’s Great Green
Wall and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
️ The impact of war on land—and how ecosystems
in conflict zones can be restored.


This is more than an interview—it’s both a wake-up call and a
roadmap forward. The solutions are there.


UNCCD - GS Ibrahim Thiaw - Host - World Economic Forum