On 17 June 2025, Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) hosted an International webinar to commemorate World Desertification and Drought Day (WDDD) under the global theme set by the UNCCD: “United for Land. Our Legacy. Our Future.” The event was held virtually and brought together global experts and researchers to share solutions for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (SDG 15.3) and building drought-resilient landscapes. Moderated by Dr. Nausheen Mazhar, Chairperson, Department of Geography, LCWU, the webinar featured thought-provoking presentations from internationally acclaimed speakers, aligning with LCWU’s growing representation on the global landscape in addressing critical sustainability challenges.

Speakers and Highlights:

1. Prof. Dr. Lindsay Stringer
   Director, York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI), UK
   Presented lessons from Nigeria, Ghana, and Brazil on how regenerative, climate-smart agricultural practices can drive landscape restoration and rural resilience.
   Talk: “Restore the Land: Unlock the Opportunities”
2. Prof. Dr. Li Xiaosong
   Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences
   Shared innovations in big data and remote sensing to improve the measurability and monitoring of land degradation processes at national and global scales.
   Talk: “Make the Land Degradation Measurable Better”
3. Dr. Laura Turnbull-Lloyd
   Durham University, UK
   Introduced advanced eco-hydrological and geomorphic modelling tools to understand and mitigate degradation in arid and semi-arid regions.
   Talk: “Coupled Erosion-Vegetation Modelling: A Tool to Understand Degradation and Restoration Efforts in Drylands”
4. Dr. Cesar Luis Garcia
   CEO, APACHETA
   Emphasized data-driven approaches to assess land degradation and prioritize restoration using spatial and scientific decision-support systems.
   Talk: “Assessing Land Degradation: A First Step into Setting Restoration Priorities”
5. Dr. Amos Kabo-bah
   University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana; Co-Chair GEO LDN Flagship
   Presented community-driven dryland restoration success stories from Ghana, reinforcing the need for localized solutions in global frameworks.
   Talk: “Dryland Restoration: Success Stories from Ghana”

By convening this high-level dialogue, LCWU reaffirmed its leadership and commitment to global efforts in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality and supporting the UNCCD agenda and SDG 15.3 through research, education, and international cooperation.