World Day to Combat Desertification is observed annually on June 17. This observance was officially added to the Gregorian calendar in 1995 following the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, with the aim of raising global awareness about the threat of desertification and its impact on the environment, agriculture, and the livelihoods of millions worldwide. Desertification refers to land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, primarily caused by human activities and climate change. Since its designation, countries have marked the day with conferences, workshops, and educational programs to promote solutions for slowing desertification. The phenomenon leads to reduced soil fertility, forced migration, and threats to food security. The day emphasizes international cooperation and the importance of preventive and remedial actions against the spread of deserts. Its inclusion in the Gregorian calendar was the result of a United Nations decision in 1995 to draw global attention to this environmental crisis.
