CSO NEWLETTER AT UNCCD COP14 (Day 2)

1. BRAINSTORMING TO THE EXISTING
PRIORITIES OF CSOs
The session chaired by Nathalie and co –
chaired by Eric requested the working groups to
present their ideas and discussions to make clear
the agenda of the COP14 to the other CSOs.
On behalf of the CSOs, a draft for CSO Opening
Statement for COP14 Plenary was delivered by
Mr. Bhawani Kusum from Gram Bharathi Samiti,
India. He reminded on the importance of land and
calls for an urgent participation of the Parties, the
inter-governmental organizations and the
donors, to join hands with civil society to speed
up the actions needed to sustain the land and its
people. Thereafter, suggestions were welcomed
to the statement. Suggestions included on topics
such as the importance of subdued sections of the
society as children as their due status is not
provided to them. More factors such as
researchers and scientists to be one of the major
participants, government – private sector
integration to be included as part of the
statement. The corrections were made in the
following session and was presented at the
plenary.
FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT OF UNCCD
Mr. Prakash Javedkar, the new President of
UNCCD opened the plenary by addressing the
delegates and thanked China for their presidency
in the previous two years.
He talked about how Indians consider the land as
their mother and hence UNCCD is a like a Mother
convention to India. There was a talk about how
important Agenda 2030's Article 15 is ambitious
and important for the world.
"We walk together, work together, share
together and work on sustainability"
He concluded the speech by talking about The
India Pavilion Exhibition, a platform which shared
several success stories of the FAO, NBA and other
organizations. He suggested on the urge to work
on improving land rehabilitation.
eco

2. Mining has been a common activity in
Chihuahua, Mexico since the time Spain
conquered northern Mexico. The mining activity
still takes place despite the degradation on
opencast mining. Most mining activity is done in
the state of Chihuahua at the sierra
Tarahumara, a forest area inhabited by the
native Tarahumara people since thousands of
years. They manage their livelihood by growing
corn, beans and squash. Most of the families
have a small herd of cattle that has not changed
for more than 500 years, since the Europeans
arrived. Although, the presence of mines has
some short - term benefits to the Tarahumara,
such as temporal work and schools, the problem
arises due to after – effects of mining.
This results in the area being devasted by the
opencast mine operation. A successful case of
mine reclamation was done this year when the
gold mine's owner who was willing to restore the
place brought an opportunity to work with local
regenerative ranchers in restoring the place.
“Perennial grasslands and small spots of pines
and oaks were growing on former barren
ground”
The planning was made by the mine owners and
regenerative cattle ranchers to build portable
corrals to hold cattle for daily moves at the actual
mine grounds. Cattles that they feed bales of corn
stock to build organic matter together with cow
manure. In addition, native seeds were fed as part
of the fodder and inoculated with fungi and
bacteria to promote the establishment of a
perennial grasslands. Also, pine and oak varieties
were planted as part of the restoration project.
The results after applying regenerative ranching
for 9 months were astonishing: Perennial
grasslands and small spots of pines and oaks were
growing on former barren ground. This will allow
Tarahumaras to continue doing the activities that
they have been doing since hundreds of years.
Hence, nourishing their herds.
MINE RECLAMATION PROJECT IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO USING
REGENERATIVE RANCHING
- Alejandro Carrillo