Nairobi, Aug. 23 -- Life pends on land, and so does the economy. When land loses productivity, the damage does not stop at the farm gate. It affects food production, livestock, water availability, incomes, supply chains and public finances.

Yet land degradation and desertification are still often discussed simply as environmental concerns, rather than economic risks.

That is the bigger question emerging from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where the 17th session of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) opened on August 17 under the theme "Restoring Land. Restoring Hope".

The two-week summit brings together governments, business, finance, scientists and communities to advance action on land restoration and drought resilience....