Dryland Congress 2026 Concludes with Delhi Declaration on Drylands
The three-day Dryland Congress 2026 concluded in New Delhi with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Drylands (3D), setting out a shared agenda for transforming dryland agriculture through collaboration, knowledge exchange, innovation and collective action across the Global South. It was endorsed at the closing plenary by participating governments, institutions, partners and delegates of the Dryland Congress 2026.
Held under the theme “Transforming Dryland Agriculture with South–South Cooperation,” the Congress concluded with a renewed commitment to translate scientific knowledge into action, scale proven innovations and strengthen partnerships for resilient and sustainable dryland agriculture across the Global South.
Drylands are defined using an Aridity Index (AI), which is calculated by dividing mean precipitation by potential evapotranspiration. Drylands have an AI of 0.65 or lower, meaning that potential evapotranspiration is at least 50% greater than actual mean precipitation. Drylands with an AI of between 0.65 and 0.5 are classified as dry subhumid.
Drylands, characterized by water scarcity, comprise 83% of DOI-managed lands. Drylands are highly vulnerable to erosion by wind and water and are affected by land use (e.g., grazing) and disturbance (e.g., fire). The Ecosystems Land Change Science Program conducts research to understand the primary drivers of change in dryland soils and vegetation to inform management decisions.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD) is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.
The Convention, the only convention stemming from a direct recommendation of the Rio Conference's Agenda 21, was adopted in Paris, France, on 17 June 1994 and entered into force in December 1996. It is the only internationally legally binding framework set up to address the problem of desertification. The Convention is based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization—the backbone of good governance and sustainable development. It has 197 parties, making it near universal in reach.
To help publicise the Convention, 2006 was declared "International Year of Deserts and Desertification" but debates have ensued regarding how effective the International Year was in practice.
India ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on December 17, 1996
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