The side event highlights strategies to scale urban forestry and nature-based solutions (NBS) to advance land restoration, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation in arid urban areas.

The session emphasizes the transformative potential of urban forestry as a nature-based solution that supports the objectives of UNCCD and other Rio Conventions. Specifically, reflecting the Coalition’s key messages and Action Agenda, the event presents actionable guidance for funding and integrating urban forestry into national policies and plans to strengthen climate, biodiversity and land restoration goals. This includes national plans under the Rio conventions National Action Plans (UNCCD), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) (UNFCCC Paris Agreement), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) (UNCBD).

Practical insights will be shared on how urban forestry drives sustainable urban development in dry cities, along with innovative funding models to support these efforts. Participants will engage in a cross-sector dialogue, fostering collaboration between local and national governments, financial institutions and international organizations, highlighting tools and replicable models for embedding urban greening into national plans and budgets for resilience in dry regions.

The Trees in Dry Cities Coalition operates as a collaborative network of UN Member States, cities, civil society, NGOs, private sector partners, and international organizations, including the UNCCD. This collective effort aligns urban greening initiatives with key global commitments, creating a cohesive approach to tackle environmental and urban challenges. The Coalition champions urban forestry as a scalable, impactful solution to build resilient, sustainable, and ecologically sound urban landscapes in arid regions.

The outcomes of the event will be an important input to shaping the work and activities of the Coalition over the coming year and beyond.