Luc Gnacadja is the executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Born in Benin, he is an architect with a passion for fighting land degradation. Before taking up his position as UNCCD executive secretary, he served as Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development of Benin from 1999 to 2005. In March 2003 Mr. Gnacadja was honoured with the 2002 Green Award in Washington by the World Bank.