Nathalie van Haren
Agro-ecology • Community based initiatives • Drynet • Inclusive land use planning • Right to Food • Rio Declaration • Sustainable land use • UNCCD
In my work over the years I've met people and civil society organisations around the world who develop inspiring initiatives to counter the challenges of land degradation, land conflict and climate change. But these initiatives often go unnoticed by policy makers and financial institutions. That needs to change. The involvement of civil society is crucial to good policy making. That's why I've committed myself to letting initiatives on agroecology to be seen and recognized.
I am an agricultural engineer, working for Both ENDS since 2003. I find the report 'Agriculture at a Crossroads', in which possibilities for healthy, sustainable and fair agricultural and food systems are clearly formulated and the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Forests and Fisheries two of the most important processes of the last decade.
I have been involved with Drynet – a CSO network supporting local initiatives in drylands – since 2012. Drynet members come from Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia. We focus on the implementation of the UNCCD which is the Rio Convention on desertification, land degradation and land restoration. We do this by bringing local agro-ecological and governance solutions from farmers (f/m) and pastoralists in drylands to policy makers. I have been co-chair of Drynet's board since 2016.
Since January 2018, I have the honour to be on the UNCCD CSO panel on behalf of the CSOs from Western Europe and Other Groups region. I strive for active involvement of CSOs in the UNCCD debates and for better communication between the CSO-community, the UNCCD secretariat and the parties.

-
Alternative
Inclusive Land Governance
Both ENDS works with partners around the world to ensure that land is governed fairly and inclusively and managed sustainably with priority for the rights and interests of local communities.
-
Dossier
Improving soil health for farmers and ecosystems (iSQAPER)
Soil health is of great importance for both ecosystems and agricultural and food-production systems. Both ENDS promotes sustainable land use and fair land governance, this way contributing to better soil health.
-
News / 29 October 2019
What have we learned from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification?
The second United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held from 2 to 14 September in New Delhi, India. Our colleague Nathalie has been working together with many civil society organisations for several years to show the UNCCD that large numbers of local communities around the world are working on sustainable land use and on combating desertification and land degradation, and that land-use security is essential.
-
Event / 12 September 2019, 08:00 - 10:00
UNCCD COP14: From global frameworks to local actions
At the UNCCD COP14 in India, which is taking place from 2-13 September 2019, Both ENDS is co-organising a number of side events.
-
Event / 6 September 2019, 13:00 - 15:00
UNCCD COP14: Communities regreen the Sahel
At the UNCCD COP14 in India, which is taking place from 2-13 September 2019, Both ENDS is co-organising a number of side events.
-
Event / 4 September 2019, 13:00 - 15:00
UNCCD COP14: Pathways for big money to reach local communities
At the UNCCD COP14 in India, which is taking place from 2-13 September 2019, Both ENDS is co-organising a number of side events.
-
News / 30 August 2019
Dealing with drought: the UNCCD COP in India
Worldwide, hundreds of millions of people live in areas where the soil is depleted; often they are forced to, or the region they have been living in for generations has become increasingly arid over time. The desert is advancing and this is a global problem. Opinions about the causes of land degradation and desertification, but especially about the solutions, are very divided. To discuss this, the biennial global conference on desertification will take place from 2 to 14 September. This is where policymakers, scientists, NGOs, female and male farmers and pastoralist, herders and companies from all over the world come together. Our colleague Nathalie van Haren is present at the conference and explains why.
-
News / 16 August 2019
Opinion: "Sustainable land use needs radical policy change"
Today, an op-ed by Nathalie van Haren and Stefan Schüller was published in the Dutch national newspaper De Volkskrant about the IPCC's latest report "Climate Change and Land". Below you find the English translation.
-
Publication / 11 July 2019
-
Publication / 14 January 2019
-
Publication / 14 January 2019
-
News / 28 September 2017
Both ENDS at UNCCD COP13: don’t forget about the people
This September, Both ENDS participated at the 13th Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD in Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China. We were part of the Drynet delegation, a network of CSOs, to bring local realities to the international UNCCD discussions.
-
Event / 6 September 2017
UNCCD COP 2017 - CHINA
From 6-16 september, the 13th Conference of Parties' of the UNCCD (UN Convention to Combat Desertification) took place, this time in Ordos, China. The UNCCD is the global convention of the United Nations on combating desertification and drought. Every country in the world has signed this convention. Canada withdrew in 2012, but in 2016 - under the Trudeau administration - started a process to re-enter the convention. Both ENDS is a member of Drynet, a network of local organisations and communities in dry regions searching for ways to use land in a sustainable manner.
-
Publication / 1 September 2017
-
Publication / 1 September 2017
-
Event / 7 November 2016
COP22: Marrakech Climate Change Conference
From 7 to 18 november, the Climate Change COP22 will take place in Marrakech, Morrocco. This '22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)' as it is called officially, is the annual meeting of the 195 countries which have signed and ratified the convention.