“This [conference of the parties to the UN convention on combating desertification to be held in Riyadh in December] is about land degradation, land preservation and drought. It’s very important for water security, food security, biodiversity, and human community. We need to go back to basics and remind the world of this connection we all have with the land. Desertification tells us that we have not exercised good land management.” Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water, Degradation of land is threat to human life, Saudi government says, [The Guardian]