The COP meets at a critical moment in the implementation of the Convention which came into force in 1996. Knowledge about the serious global threat from the loss of productive land has increased dramatically in recent years. The relationship with its sister Conventions on climate change and biodiversity has never been more important. The impact of desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) inhibiting the reduction of poverty, food insecurity, infant mortality and other global targets has never been more stark. For long a blind spot among policy makers, DLDD is increasingly moving into the mainstream. The high-level meeting of world leaders on 20 September in New York, the UN General Assembly where the gaps and measures to move drought and land degradation to the centre of policy development are captured in the Summary of the President of the General Assembly.

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