At the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 17 to 28, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, discussed her country's challenges and strategies for tackling land degradation and drought.

Swarts emphasized that South Africa's efforts must prioritize rural communities, noting that some provinces are already facing such severe drought and land degradation that no crops can be grown. This situation is especially acute in Limpopo and the Northern Cape, where, as she pointed out, even grazing land and drinking water for livestock are unavailable due to the extent of degradation.

Addressing this crisis, Swarts stressed that community education is the most urgent priority. She argued that given the severity of the situation, residents who do not understand what land degradation is or what restoration work entails will not see degraded land recover on its own—it will only worsen. Therefore, South Africa must help communities recognize the reality of degradation and grasp the purpose of restoration actions, aiming to halt further damage in affected areas while also protecting land that has not yet deteriorated.

Swarts placed particular value on combining indigenous knowledge with modern technology, stating that the key lies in making scientific research and technical solutions understandable to local people. She noted that communities trust their own traditional knowledge systems, and they will only accept new practices after thorough explanation and education. As a result, South Africa's approach is to first understand the community's context, then introduce external technologies and solutions, supported by continuous education to help people understand the rationale behind these changes. She believes this is the only way to sustainably advance land restoration efforts.