On August 24th, in the witness of all participants attending the ANSO Side Event at UNCCD COP 17, Prof. Liu Weidong, Executive Director of ANSO, officially read the ANSO Dryland Sustainable Development Initiative: Multilateral Collaboration and Science Empowerment. Dr. Barron Joseph Orr from the UNCCD Secretariat extended warm congratulations on the release of the Initiative during the closing remarks—he himself provided valuable advice for the formulation of the Initiative.

Jointly drafted by international experts, the Initiative has received backing from ANSO members. Meanwhile, nearly 100 collaborating experts and partners have expressed their readiness to participate in the actions outlined in the Initiative. On behalf of ANSO, Prof Liu Weidong presented the official text of the Initiative to Dr. Barron Joseph Orr of the UNCCD Secretariat at the event.

Prof. Liu further emphasized that key priorities for advancing sustainable development in drylands include strengthening regional multilateral cooperation and exchanges, advancing science-based governance, fully leveraging digital technologies and artificial intelligence tools, ensuring active engagement from local communities and youth, and securing diversified financial support. ANSO stands ready to work alongside the UNCCD Secretariat to enhance multilateral collaboration and drive forward sustainable development across drylands.

The Initiative calls upon international organizations, research institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders to build multilateral partnerships, transform the prevailing perception that drylands lie at the margins of sustainable development efforts, and leverage scientific and technological innovation to advance dryland sustainable development.