Land and Water Investment Declared National Priority

Algeria has formally designated investment in land and water resources as a national priority, a strategic initiative underlined by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's relaunch of the Green Dam project. This revitalized project, designed with significant ecological, economic, and social dimensions, is highlighted as an exemplary model for mobilizing financial resources to support land reclamation and effectively combat desertification across the nation.

The commitment to addressing desertification was underscored by Djamel Touahria, Director General of Forests, during his participation in the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 24 to 26, the session provided a platform where Mr. Touahria delivered a high-level statement. His address, focused on "Innovative Financing Mechanisms for Healthy and Drought-Resilient Lands," detailed Algeria's robust efforts aimed at mitigating the desertification phenomenon.

In his remarks, Mr. Touahria emphasized that financing for global efforts to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought should be treated as a priority, particularly in light of existing international funding gaps. He advocated for the development of more efficient and flexible financing mechanisms to effectively advance the objectives of the UNCCD. The Directorate General of Forests, operating under the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, serves as Algeria's national focal point for this critical United Nations convention.