The protection, conservation and rehabilitation of global soils it is the main aim of the Global Soil Partnership. Sustainable development will not be reached unless the implementation of sustainable soil management is achieved. The concept of Land degradation neutral world sets an opportunity for placing efforts towards the protection, conservation of healthy land/soils and rehabilitation of those already degraded. This significant challenge would require sound scientific advice and guidance that is based on scientific based evidences. A global scientific authority such as the just established Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils is working towards the provision of this scientific guidance in order to have solid elements for implementing the land degradation neutral world concept. This side event will bring the chair of the ITPS and its experts to present their potential contribution to this process and will ask for feedback from authorities and all stakeholders on the way forward and how they could contribute to the objectives of the UNCCD.