Apacheta and PISLM Sign MOU at UNCCD COP16

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – December 8, 2024

At the UNCCD COP16, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Apacheta and the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Pavilion. This milestone agreement launches a joint effort to enhance sustainable land management in Caribbean SIDS through the development of native datasets and targeted capacity building.

Signed by Apacheta CEO Cesar Luis Garcia and PISLM Executive Director Calvin James, the MOU prioritizes the co-creation of land cover, land productivity, and soil datasets built from regional data and local expertise. It also outlines support for technical training programs to help national agencies manage and apply these datasets in planning, reporting, and restoration.

“This collaboration will help Caribbean SIDS address land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change using the best available geospatial tools informed by community knowledge,” said Cesar Garcia.

Calvin James noted that this partnership will also position Caribbean nations as equal contributors within global platforms and institutions, ensuring their data and insights help shape global land policy.

The MOU was signed following the Global Dialogue on SIDS Default Data Initiatives, an official COP16 side event emphasizing the need for regionally owned data systems and stronger digital equity.

This agreement reinforces the importance of locally informed, technically rigorous solutions to combat land degradation. Apacheta looks forward to supporting PISLM’s mission to build resilient landscapes and sustainable communities across the Caribbean.