Business4Land Champions’ Council Launched to Restore Global Land

Davos, Switzerland, 24 January 2026:

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Secretariat, together with the COP16 Presidency led by Saudi Arabia, officially launched the Business4Land (B4L) Champions’ Council at a high-level event hosted at InTent during the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos.

The B4L Champions’ Council brings together senior executives and CEOs from ten pioneering companies, including Nexira, Suzano, Gut & Bösel, Patagonia Provisions/B. Cameron Consulting, Olam Group, Reservas Votorantim, Genesis Soil Health, EY, Envision Energy, and LVMH. The Council aims to mobilize private sector leadership to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030, aligning business strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on climate, biodiversity, and land degradation neutrality.

H.E. Dr. Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment of Saudi Arabia and Advisor to the COP16 Presidency, emphasized the urgency of private sector engagement:
"Half of global GDP depends on land—from our water and food to forests, cities, and roads. Yet 100 million hectares degrade each year due to ‘business as usual.’ By investing in land, businesses not only secure sustainability but generate substantial returns."

The Council builds on momentum from the Riyadh Action Agenda, unveiled at COP16 in Riyadh in December 2024, where over US$12 billion was pledged for land restoration and drought resilience. Contributions came from the Arab Coordination Group, the Islamic Development Bank, the OPEC Fund, and the Government of Saudi Arabia. The B4L Champions’ Council will further catalyze private sector action through structured engagement, collaboration, and investment.

Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of UNCCD, added:
"Investing in land is not just a moral imperative; it is a significant economic opportunity. Each dollar spent on land restoration could generate around 30 dollars in revenue. B4L provides a formal platform for private sector participation in global land regeneration efforts."

The Council will focus on:

• Mobilizing private capital and corporate initiatives to scale regenerative, land-positive business models.

• Advocating for business and investment cases for land restoration, drought resilience, and food security.

• Fostering collaboration across value chains and sectors.

• Supporting policy alignment through structured public-private dialogue.

• Implementing the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP) to address rising drought risks worldwide.

At the launch, corporate leaders shared insights and commitments:

• Nexira emphasized measurable impact and sustainable sourcing in agriculture.

• Suzano highlighted the benefits of regenerative forestry for biodiversity and financial resilience.

• Gut & Bösel presented practical approaches to soil health and reversing land degradation.

The launch represents a pivotal milestone in positioning land at the center of global climate and development agendas, demonstrating how private sector leadership can accelerate a regenerative, land-positive future.