What they say

To combat desertification, our country conducts land consolidation and rehabilitation in deserts and develops agriculture in those areas. We motivate young people to play a part in the process and focus on environmental education.

Wassalke Boukari, minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Niger

The achievement of land degradation neutrality is a global imperative if we are going to be able to meet future demands for food, water and energy of the estimated 9.5 billion people that will inhabit the Earth by 2050.

Pohamba Shifeta, minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia

Beyond keeping the possibility of producing food and raw materials, combating desertification should focus on the conservation and preservation of services provided by different ecosystems, particularly dryland ecosystems, where the loss of these services has a high environmental, social and cultural impact.

Diego Ignacio Moreno, secretary of Environmental Policy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina

I believe the Belt and Road Initiative will play a significant role of combating desertification and land degradation in an extensive area including the Middle East and Central Asia.

Kim Yongha, deputy minister of the Republic of Korea Forest Service

I would like to say that the fruitful cooperation in our region is a significant factor for combating desertification. Today's high-level round table dialogue will play a very important role to share the best experiences to achieving land degradation neutrality.

Ts Tsengel, state secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism of Mongolia

To prevent further damage to our planet, our efforts need to be strengthened. We need a strong political will and determination to set goals and targets.

Sedat Kadioglu, deputy undersecretary, Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Republic of Turkey

(China Daily 06/20/2016 page12)