I am pleased to send greetings to the launch of the Global Dryland Alliance.
 
Viable drylands are integral to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
 
Some 3 billion of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people live in drylands.
 
Enabling these fragile areas to provide for their populations requires integrated strategies backed up by innovation and technology.
 
I am therefore encouraged by this new international effort designed to address the interlinked challenges of land degradation, and water, food and energy security.
 
I commend the members of the Global Dryland Alliance for your commitment.
 
I wish your initiative every success.