INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMBATING DESERTIFICATION AND ARID LANDS MANAGEMENT INNOVATIONS
Organizers: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Workshop Theme: “Leveraging Innovation and Renewable Resources to Combat Desertification”
Date: 23rd – 25th APRIL 2018
Location: Crowne Plaza Riyadh Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Background:
Arid, semi-arid, marginal, and saline environments are mostly vulnerable to climate change. The growing population coupled with climate change is exerting more pressure on limited natural resources in these regions. Land degradation and subsequent desertification are becoming the most important developmental challenges in these areas.
The excessive or unjustifiable land managements, loss of soil fertility, soil salinization and accelerated soil erosion together cause land degradation. Ultimately, the disruption the natural resources causes devastating impact on the surrounding environment. Consequently, people living in these areas are finding it difficult to uplift their socio-economic status and welfare.
There is now growing interest by countries with vast arid/desert territories to make better use of the limited water resources for Sustainable Environment and Natural Resource Management (SENRM). The SENRM practices promote a green, clean, and resilient world where natural resources – from rangelands, forests to fisheries, freshwater, oceans, coastal zones and ecosystems – are managed to support livelihoods and strong economies. Sustainable SENRM help to prepare the world global challenges, helping countries to limit their exposure to resource scarcity, more-volatile weather patterns, and cope with the long-term consequences of climate change.
In this perspective, The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) wish to organize an “International Workshop on Combating Desertification and Arid Lands Management Innovations” by inviting international experts to analyze and present the global scenario and share their experiences, with emphasis on desert and arid environments.
The workshop sessions will be aimed at learning from both theoretical and practical approaches geared towards combatting desertification, identifying common challenges, best practices and future prospects.
The workshop specifically seeks to showcase practical experiences, and share novel ideas within the context of the tested technologies, both successful and unsuccessful, to rehabilitate the flora in deserts and arid lands. Moreover, the workshop will also focus all the aspects of salinity management and general efforts towards combating desertification in arid lands.
The workshop will bring together scientists, technology developers, private sector actors who have catalyzed the generation of experiences around the workshop thematic areas.
Workshop objectives and approach
The main objective of the workshop is to assess the current practices and prospects/opportunities for desert and arid land SENRM and water resources development around the globe by presenting the current state of the art and ongoing developments, ideas and identification of future trends. The workshop will provide a forum for networking among the international community working in arid areas.
The main outputs of this workshop will be the identification of activities and intervention areas (covering biological, technical, policy/governance, economic and other issues) to be included as components of the KSA’s initiative on “Greening the Kingdom”.
The workshop will explore research, theory, concepts, and practices under the following thematic areas.
1. Sustainable Management and Rehabilitation of Arid and Hyper-Arid Rangelands and Forests (R&Fs)
• Managing and Restoring R&F vegetation in Arid areas
• Integrated Water and Land Management in Arid R&Fs
• Arid R&F Biodiversity (Native and Non-Native Genetic Resources, Tolerance, Seed propagation)
• Rangeland and Forest resources Assessment and Monitoring
• Community participation in Rangeland and Forest Management
• Pastoral Industries for Arid Rangelands
• Institutional aspects of R&F Management
2. Innovations in Saline Environments Management and Use of Renewable Resources
• Innovative Technologies for Saline Agriculture and Coastal Farming
• Renewable Energy for Seawater De-Salinization to Enhance the Availability of Fresh Water for Vegetation and Agriculture.
• Mangrove Rehabilitation and Blue Carbon
• Land management of Saline soils and Sabkhas (salt flats).
3. Combating Desertification in Arid-Lands
• Large scale greenbelt implementation
• Land Degradation Neutrality
• Efficient Use of Water in Dryland Agriculture
• Use of conventional and non-conventional water (treated wastewater, industrial water, agricultural drainage, and seawater)
• Shelterbelts and Urban Area Plantations in Arid Areas
• Management of Shifting Sand Movements
• Land Imaging for Monitoring Desertification and Land
4. Impact of Climate Change and Desertification on Arid Lands
• Climate Change and Desertification
• Carbon Sequestration and Combating Desertification
• Mitigating Effects of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
• Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning Systems
• Climate Change/Desertification Information Systems and Research in Arid Lands
The workshop will take place over three full days. The workshop structure will include:
• Plenary presentations by invited speakers on workshop themes
• Volunteer papers for oral presentation selected by the scientific committee
• Poster sessions
• An Exhibition
The workshop Language will be Arabic and English.
Deadlines:
Abstract submission: January 15, 2017
Notification of the accepted abstracts: January 30, 2018
Submission of full extended abstract: Feb 20, 2018
Final program notified to participants: March 20, 2018
Start of workshop: April 23, 2018
Registration fee. It is free to attend the workshop. Apart from invited speakers, participants are expected to cover all other costs of travel, hotel and food. The organizing committee will provide workshop material, abstract book, workshop lunches, and refreshments during sessions. Likewise, the workshop secretariat will assist in visa issuance and in finding good accommodation in Riyadh.
For more information on INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMBATING DESERTIFICATION please visit the following link: www.iwcd.info
