In an exclusive interview, The Diplomat’s Bolor Lkhaajav spoke with UNCCD Executive Secretary Dr. Yasmine Fouad on range of issues facing Mongolia, the significance of Mongolia hosting COP17, and what policy recommendations UNCCD has for the country’s policymakers. Across the world, countries increasingly recognize that desertification, land degradation, and drought are no longer solely environmental concerns. One of the key expectations for COP17 is progress in mobilizing finance for land restoration and drought resilience. Addressing land degradation and drought requires around $355 billion annually, yet current investment is only about $77 billion each year. As a resource-rich country, it is also confronting the growing impacts of land degradation, drought, and water stress.