Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa A/RES/74/220 special report on climate change, desertification, land degradation, sustainable land management, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems, as well as the findings contained in the special report of the Panel entitled Global Warming of 1.5°C, Deeply concerned about the continuous trend in land degradation and the fact that the impacts of desertification, land degradation and drought are felt most strongly by people in vulnerable situations, Recalling the United Nations strategic plan for forests 2017–2030, 6 and acknowledging that all types of forests provide essential ecosystem se rvices, such as timber, food, fuel, fodder, non-wood products and shelter, as well as soil and water conservation and clean air, that the sustainable management of forests and trees outside forests is vital to the integrated implementation of the 2030 Agen da for Sustainable Development and that forests prevent land degradation and desertification and reduce the risk of floods, soil erosion, landslides and avalanches, droughts, sand and dust storms and other disasters, Expressing its appreciation to the Government of India for hosting the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, held in New Delh i from 2 to 13 September 2019, Noting the establishment of an intergovernmental working group on effective policy and implementation measures for addressing drought under the Convention, with a view to presenting its findings and recommendations to the pa rties for their consideration at the fifteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, Reaffirming the importance of government leadership, multi-stakeholder partnerships and increasing private engagement for the sustainable management , restoration and rehabilitation of ecosystems, biodiversity and land, Highlighting the importance of multi-stakeholder participation at the local, subnational, national and regional levels and from all sectors of society, including civil society organizations, local government and the private sector, as appropriate, in the implementation of the Convention and its 2018–2030 Strategic Framework, Recognizing the value of knowledge, education, science and new technology to sustainable land management, including making use of, inter alia, the Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainable Soil Management of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, emphasizing the importance of science -based decision-making and that science and technology to combat desertification, land degradation and drought should therefore be further promoted, and acknowledging the work of the Science-Policy Interface of the Convention, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 73/233 on the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa; 7 2. Welcomes the outcomes of the fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, 2 and stresses the importance of their effective implementation; __________________ 6 7 19-22489 See resolution 71/285. A/74/207, sect. II. 3/7