Mongolia from the Ground Up: COP17 Desertification

What is desertification, why is land degrading around the world, and what can Mongolia teach us about the causes? In Part 1 of Green Frequency’s coverage of UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, host Clark Marchese explores the science and politics of land degradation, from the origins of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation Neutrality to the pressures facing Mongolia’s vast grasslands. Featuring audio from inside COP17 and reporting from Mongolian journalist Turmunkh Gongorjav, the episode examines climate change, drought, overgrazing, mining, urbanization, coal and the growing demand for critical minerals. It also asks a deeper question: whose knowledge counts when governments decide why land is degrading? From Fiji’s coastal farmland to Mongolia’s rangelands, this episode explores how land degradation looks different around the world, why local and Indigenous knowledge matters, and how the way we diagnose environmental problems shapes the solutions we pursue. Part 2 turns to sustainable land management, science and technology, finance, and the political outcomes of COP17. Episode Guest: Turmunkh Gongorjav Read Turmunkh Gongorjav’s article here Interview translated and recorded by Nomin Byambatsogt Explore the Pine Forest Media digital ecosystem on our website Follow us on Social Media @pineforestmedia Cover Art by Laurel Wong Theme music by Nela Ruiz Find some more Pine Forest Media podcasts below Listen to Oceanography on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to South Pole on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Listen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.