The primary objective of this side event is to promote the “Trigger change” courses covering a variety of topics related to land restoration, including the recently launched s:  Trigger Change!  Sustainable Agriculture Solutions for Land Restoration by the G20 Global Land Initiative/ U.N. Convention for Combating Desertification (UNCCD).   The course was developed in partnership with global experts, including the University of Bern, CIFOR/ICRAF and others.  It aims to cultivate a new generation of actors committed to sustainable agriculture, innovation and land restoration. The event will illustrate how educators and practitioners can access the open access materials to enhance synergies between the implementation of UNCCD and CBD, and how SLM practices can jointly address land degradation and biodiversity loss. Furthermore, the event will highlight the connections between LDN targets and the Kunming-Montreal targets, and discuss synergies for monitoring progress towards bothThis side event will serve as a platform to promote innovative educational initiatives, share knowledge, and foster collaborations that contribute to sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation.

Tentative Agenda:

1. Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker: UNCCD representative

Introduction to the event's objectives and importance of integrating efforts to combat land degradation and biodiversity loss.

2. The G20 Global Land Initiative: Integrating innovation in land restoration into the University curricula of Agriculture, Forestry, Mining, Urban and Business school programmes at global scale

Speaker: Representative from the G20 Land Initiative/UNCCD
Content: Overview of the G20 Land Initiative, its goals, and the capacity building activities to “hardwire land restoration into relevant curriculum so that future generations of agricultural scientists and experts are fully familiar with the science, technology and economics of innovation in land restoration and habitat conservation”.

3. Solutions to prioritize areas for land based interventions that maximize soil health and biodiversity conservation: Synergies in implementing UNCCD and CBD Conventions

   - Speaker: Dr. Ingrid Teich, Senior Research Scientist from University of Bern/WOCAT

   - Content: Discussion on the importance of documenting Sustainable Land Management practices, monitoring progress towards UNCCD and CBD targets, methodologies, the role of integrated data systems and the contribution of the GEO LDN flagship.

4. Integrated Land Use Planning to achieve National Land Degradation Neutrality and Kumming Montreal targets: the process in the Alto Patia Region of Colombia

   - Speaker: Expert from University of Cauca

   - Content: How are several stakeholders in Colombia working together to plan the use of a protected area considering the national LDN assessment and targets.

5. Discussion: Synergies between LDN Targets with Kunming-Montreal Targets

   - Panel Discussion: Exploring the connections between LDN targets and the Kunming-Montreal targets, and discussing strategies for synergistic monitoring and reporting.

6. Interactive Session: Course Promotion and Participant Engagement

   - Facilitator: Course developer

   - Content: Presentation of the course mission, philosophy, learning objectives, content, and benefits. Interactive session with

Expected Outcomes:

- Increased awareness of the G20 Global Land Initiative's Trigger change courses and their potential to drive innovation in land restoration.

- Enhanced understanding of the synergies between UNCCD and CBD targets and practical approaches to achieving them.

- Identification of strategies for effective monitoring and reporting of progress towards LDN and Kunming-Montreal targets.

- Strengthened collaborations among stakeholders to promote innovation in land restoration and biodiversity through education and capacity-building.