The Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, in cooperation with the “Dareeba” Centre for Environmental Studies, concluded on Sunday the workshop on identifying Sudan’s priorities for participation in the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The workshop was held at the Plan Sudan Hall in Khartoum from 24 to 27 July, with broad participation from representatives of relevant government ministries and institutions, academic institutions, research centres, youth groups, and civil society organisations. In the closing session, Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, Suleiman Al-Bouni, affirmed that the workshop achieved its objectives in identifying national priorities related to desertification, land degradation, and drought issues, contributing to the preparation of a unified Sudanese position that reflects the country’s needs and aspirations during the conference. Al-Bouni explained that the discussions resulted in a number of important recommendations focusing on strengthening sustainable natural resource management, restoring degraded lands, building resilience to climate change impacts, and expanding partnerships with national, regional, and international entities to support Sudan’s efforts in this field.  He noted that the council will work, in coordination with partners and relevant authorities, to complete the preparation of national documents and positions to be presented at the conference, enhancing Sudan’s opportunities to benefit from international initiatives and programmes aimed at combating desertification and achieving sustainable development.BH/BH