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The international One Health Summit 2012, Davos, 19-22 February 2012 organized by the Global Risk Forum GRF Davos, features an integrative health risk management approach acknowledging the systemic interconnections between human-, animal-, and environmental health in close relation with food safety and security.
The summit will contribute to further advance and promote the concept of “One Health” and strengthen collaboration across disciplines, sectors and communities of practice. A holistic and integrative perspective will be key to the successful management of global health risks in an era of climate change, resource depletion, land degradation, hunger and development challenges.
Please find the newly released summit programme with updated information on speakers, conference sessions – 8 plenaries and over 200 oral and poster presentations – and networking activities on the GRF Davos website.
Members of DesertNet International profit from a reduced participation fee of EUR 590 instead of EUR 940 (regular fee) using the following registration code: OHS2012Co-Org
Register now to join top experts, leaders and pioneers from international organizations, public authorities, insurance and health services, the pharmaceutical and the food industry, academia and civil society.
Summit programme on the GRF Davos website
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The latest edition of the DNI newsletter (No.3/2011) provides an overview over DNI´s latest science-policy activities, and information on national and international dryland-relevant dryland activities, conferences and publications.
DNI Newsletter
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Recommendations made by the scientific community at the 1st scientific-style conference of the UNCCD held in Buenos Aires in 2009 on options for a Science-Policy Platform on Land have now been compiled in a policy brief, which will be presented to and discussed with members of national delegations at the UNCCD COP10 in Changwon/Republic of Korea (10 - 21 October 2011).
Download policy brief 
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The latest issue of the DNI Newsletter 2/2011 summarises the results of the international and interdisciplinary conference on Dryland Ecosystem Functioning and Resilience held in Alghero, Sardinia from 6 to 8 July 2011. The Newsletter also outlines the DNI activities for the upcoming UNCCD COP in South Korea (October 2011)
DNI Newsletter
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The Scientific Committee of the Conference on Dryland ecosystem functioning and resilience is pleased to announce that the programme of the 3-day international conference, which will be held from 6 to 8 July 2011 in Alghero, Italy is now available at the conference website.
We also wish to remind you that the deadline for early registration and for poster submission is 15 June 2011. Registration remains open until the beginning of the conference.
Please refer to the website for additional information. Don't hesitate to contact us and the organising secretariat in case of any additional queries.
Bureau of DesertNet International
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The upcoming conference on Dryland ecosystem functioning and resilience: integrating biophysical assessment with socio-economic issues, jointly organized by European Science Foundation, DesertNet International and NRD Desertification Research Group of the University of Sassari , will be held in Alghero (Italy) from 6 to 8 July 2011. Please refer to the conference website for additional information on provisional programme, registration and poster submission guidelines.
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The latest issue of the DesertNet International Newsletter (1/2011) is now available online and provides a detailed report on the results of CST-S2, CRIC-9. The newlsetter also lists important scientific events with relevance for dryland research, and provides latest information on international activities in drylands and statistics on dryland status.
DNI Newsletter
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Special issue of Land Degradation and Development Journal now online! The special Issue of Land Degradation and Development Journal on the UNCCD First Scientific Conference, "Understanding Land Degradation Trends", is now formally published in the Wiley Online Library. All articles are free to download.
Weblink
We would like to thank all members of DesertNet International, who contributed to the articles in this issue.
DNI Bureau
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On 17 February 2011, during the Second Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-2) in Bonn, Germany (16 to 18 February 2011), DesertNet International jointly with UNU-INWEH presented the results of an e.forum to assess the need and the means for organizing scientific advice for the UNCCD-CST at a Side Event titled "Providing Inter-Disciplinary Scientific Advice to the UNCCD: A View from the Scientific Community".
Download Report of this Side Event
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Over 170 respondents from 52 countries participated in the e-forum on 'Providing Interdisciplinary Scientific Advice to the UNCCD'. The e.forum addressed questions such as:
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the current impact of scientific research on combating land degradation at the national and global levels
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the need for better information to manage the environment and inform policy-making and
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the need and scope for a scientific body on land issues.
The results of the e.forum were presented at a side event at the UNCCD CST-S2 on 17 February, 2011, in Bonn, Germany. You can download the full report on the evaluation of the e.forum here:
Download full report
We are currently preparing a report on the outcomes of the discussions at the Side Event in Bonn. This report will be provided to you in the next days.
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From 16 to 25 February 2011, the Second Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-2) and the Ninth Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC9) will be held back-to-back in the World Conference Center in Bonn, Germany.
On 17 February, during CST S-2, DesertNet International and UNU-INWEH will jointly present the results of the e.forum to assess the need and means for the organization of scientific advice for the UNCCD-CST in a side event titled "Providing Inter-Disciplinary Scientific Advice to the UNCCD: A View from the Scientific Community" (see attached announcement). The results of this e.forum are an important independent scientific contribution to the COP-request made to the CST for advice on how to organise international, interdisciplinary scientific advice (Decision 18/COP9).
Download Side Event flyer
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The latest edition of the Newsletter of DesertNet International is now available and provides an overview over the achievements of the network in 2010 and also provides a list of new scientific publications and conferences in 2011 as well as other relevant dryland information for scientists.
DNI Newsletter
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The DesertNet Working Group on 'Economics of Sustainable Land Management' is led by Dr Bhim Adhikari and Dr Richard Thomas (both from UNU-INWEH). Members of DesertNet International and non-members with expertise on economic issues in drylands are invited to join the the group. The topic ´Economics of Sustainable Land Management´ addresses a vital research issue which is receiving increasing attention by scientists and politicians worldwide to adequately address mismanagement issues in drylands which ultimately result in desertification. For more information on the work of this DesertNet working group go to the:
Working Group on the 'Economics of Sustainable Land Management'
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DesertNet Newsletter No. 3/2010 gives an overview over DesertNet´s General Election, held in Rome at IFAD on 30 September 2010, and provides information on desertification-related research projects and initiatives, calls, latest statistics, meetings, conferences and publications. The newsletter also provides researchers and studenst the opportunity to look for research partners and projects.
DNI Newsletter
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The General Assembly of DesertNet International was attended by 27 members of DesertNet International from Africa, Europe and the US. The results of the first elections of DesertNet International were announced, the election process was outlined in detail and the new Bureau members of DesertNet International were officially inaugurated. The General Assembly discussed past achievements and some of the scientific work for the next years.
Download minutes of the meeting
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44% of the members of DesertNet International participated in the election (7-9 September 2010) of the Steering Committee and the Advisory Board.
The new Steering Committee is comprised of 13 members and the new Advisory Board of 11 members. The new members of the Steering Committee from Africa, Asia, Europe, Lat. America and North America have nominated
the following members of the Steering Committee into the following functions:
Chair: Mariam Akhtar-Schuster
Co-Chair: Elena Maria Abraham
Treasurer: Richard Escadafal
General Secretary: Giuseppe Enne
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The Dryland Science for Development Consortium (DSD) developed three Working Groups to address major issues with regard to the topic of the first scientific UNCCD Conference titled "Bio-physical and Socio-economic Monitoring and Assessment of Desertification and Land Degradation to Support Decision Making in Land and Water Management". This international scientific conference was prepared and organised by DSD in collaboration with the Bureau of the CST and took place back-to-back with COP9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina (22-24 September 2009). The White Paper of DSD Working Group 3 titled "Monitoring and Assessment of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought: Knowledge Management, Institutions and Economics" is now available.
Download White Paper of DSD Working Group 3
More information on DSD can be found at:
www.drylandscience.org
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On 30th November 2009, the scientific network of European Desert (EDN) has been transformed into the Association of DesertNet International (DNI), after its registration at the Strasbourg/Illkirch Court as a legal non-governmental and non-profit organization. The Statutes of DesertNet International are now available in English, French and Spanish (see below). Members of European DesertNet and other scientists are invited to join the Association of DesertNet International. The online Registration form is now available at:
http://www.european-desertnet.eu/edntodni_main_eu.php
The interim Steering Committee and Advisory Board of DesertNet have started with the preparations of the first General Assembly which will take place in Summer 2010 in order to elect the Steering Committee and Advisory Board of DesertNet International on the basis of the statute for the next two years. All members of DesertNet International will be invited to participate at this General Assembly. We will be providing you with organisational details in the course of the next weeks.
DNI Statutes (english version)
DNI Statutes (french version)
DNI Statutes (spanish version)
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A video titled "Hope in a changing climate" shows success in efforts to rehabilitate degraded land in the loess plains of China.
Video at: Weblink
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Experts agree on a universal Standardized Precipitation Index: At an international Workshop from 8-11 December 2009 at the University of Nebraska, USA, which was co-sponsored by WMO and UNCCD, experts agreed on using a Universal Meteorological Drought Index in order to more effectively monitor drought and climate risk management. The experts advised that worldwide all national meteorological and hydrological services should use the Standardized Precipitation Index. By the end of 2010, WMO will have designed a user manual on this index, and based on two more expert rounds recommend globally applicable indices to cope with agricultural and hydrological droughts. For more see:
Weblink
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The brochure on the sientific findings of the Dryland Science for Development Consortium (DSD), which were presented at the first scientific UNCCD conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, have been published in a science brief series of the UNCCD at:
Download document
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UNCCD has posted the Report of the Conference of the Parties on its ninth session, held in Buenos Aires from 21 September to 2 October 2009, Part one: proceedings: PDF-Download
The document on decisions taken at COP9 is posted at: PDF-Download
A slide presentation given by the Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja that summarises the COP9 outcomes and the Round Table of ministers can be downloaded at: PDF-Download
The message of the UNCCD 8th Round Table of Parliamentaris to the world food summit can be downloaded at: PDF-Download
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Presentations, statements and summaries of the first scientific-style UNCCD Conference which was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, back to back with COP9 are now available at the website http://www.drylandscience.org/. The Conference Proceeding will be available by the end of 2009. The Conference was organised by the Dryland Science for Development Consortium (DSD) in close cooperation with CST. DesertNet, ICARDA, ICRISAT, JRC-IES and UNU-INWEH are members of the DSD Consortium. |
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The International Conference on Desertification in Memory of Professor John B. Thornes took place in Murcia (Spain) from 16-18 Sep 2009. The conference enabled an international forum to discuss different aspects of desertification in order to update knowledge and propose actions or follow-up action on priority research. But most importantly, the conference paid tribute to Professor John B. Thornes, who died in July 2008. John B. Thornes was an internationally well-known expert on desertification who had dedicated much of his life to the study of desertification processes. He was a pioneer on field instrumentation and process modeling. John B. Thornes´ research covered almost all drylands worldwide.
The Conference proceeding is now available at http://congresos.um.es/icod.
Download conference document
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The latest edition of the Eurpean DesertNet Newsletter (3/2009) gives an overview on the scientifically relevant outcomes of UNCCD COP9 which was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 21 Sep to 2 Oct. 2009. As member of the Dryland Science for Development Consortium (DSD), DesertNet is happy to announce that the organisation of the first scientific-style UNCCD conference was a success. This scientific Conference titled "Biophysical and socioeconomic monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation, to support decision-making in land and water management" was held back to back with COP9 in Buenos Aires. more ... |
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Increasing numbers of scientists have joined and are joining European DesertNet from all continents. Currently 315 scientists from 52 countries are membrs of this scientific network. Already at COP8 in Madrid (Sep 2007), the Steering Committee and Advisory Board of European DesertNet decided to reflect the international profile of the network in its name. It was decided in Madrid, that the name of DesertNet should change with its transformation into an Association. We had kept you as a member of European DesertNet informed about this process in several mails since autumn 2007.
We are now happy to inform you that we will be announcing the transformation of European DesertNet into DesertNet International at the UNCCD COP9 in Buenos Aires (21 Sep - 2 Oct 2009). DesertNet will be well represented at COP9 with (i) a scientific booth, (ii) official activities and (iii) as a member of the Dryland Science for Development Consortium/DSD (DesertNet, ICARDA, ICRISAT, JRC-IES, UNU-INWEH). The DSD Consortium is organising the first UNCCD Scientific Conference (22.-24. Sep 2009 in Buenos Aires). See below information on the draft Synthesis/Recommendations to COP based on the three DSD White Papers.
After COP9 you will recieve the statutes of the association 'DesertNet International', which are based on the philosophy of European DesertNet, and an official invitation to join DesertNet International.
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Revision of the draft Synthesis/Recommentations to COP based on the DSD White Papers in preparation of the first UNCCD Scientific Conference
Attached please find the revision of the draft Synthesis/Recommendations to be tabled for discussion at the First UNCCD Scientific Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina 22-24 September 2009.
This document is intended to focus the Conference discussions on developing specific messages/recommendations that it may wish to convey to the UNCCD Committee on Science and Technology. The messages/recommendations relate to the Conference topic of how to improve the monitoring and assessment of desertification, land degradation and drought to support decision-making in land and water management.
The messages/recommendations are based on the prevailing views of the world's scientific community as perceived by the deliberations over the past six months of three global Working Groups convened by the Dryland Science for Development (DSD) consortium (www.drylandscience.org)
The messages/recommendations are based on the prevailing views of the world's scientific community as perceived by the deliberations over the past six months of three global Working Groups convened by the Dryland Science for Development (DSD) consortium (www.drylandscience.org)
Your comments on this draft are most welcome, up until 20 September 2009 so that they can be studied in advance of the Conference. Please email comments to: secretariat@drylandscience.org
On behalf of the Steering Committee and Advisory Board of DesertNet.
Download document (PDF)
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Draft Synthesis and Recommendations of the First UNCCD Science Conference
For reading and reflection before the Conference
This eight-page draft document describes five Recommendations to be deliberated in the Scientific Conference for consideration by the UNCCD Committee on Science and Technology and the Conference of Parties during its Ninth Session in Buenos Aires. These Recommendations emanate from the deliberations of the three Conference Working Groups and are intended to be useful for decision-making in land and water management. The draft can be downloaded at: Weblink (PDF).
Comments may be sent to the attention of DSD at the email address: secretariat@drylandscience.org and/or raised during the Conference itself in Buenos Aires, 22-24 September 2009.
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The G8 final declaration at L´Aquila clearly addresses desertification under the rubric "forestry and land degradation" (page 22, point 79) and refers to desertification and land degradation in drylands as a risk for human well-being, poverty reduction, food security and the environment. G8 calls upon country partners and funding mechanisms to strengthen synergies between the Rio Conventions and to integrate SLM into cooperation programmes.
More information
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The International Scientific Conference: Understanding Desertification and Land Degradation Trends will take place back to back with CCD COP9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 22-24 September 2009. Scientists who wish to participate and who are not from UNCCD-accredited delegations need to fill out the attached Registration form. Deadline for registration is: 31. July 2009.
Please note: Send the completed registration form directly to secretariat@drylandscience.org.
In case of queries please contact secretariat@drylandscience.org.
More information
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The 3rd EARSeL workshop on Remote Sensing of Land Use and Land Cover will take place in Bonn from 25-27 November 2009. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is extended until July 8, 2009. Papers for oral and poster presentations can be submitted to a variety of topics related to land use and land cover. Find more details to the event on the workshop homepage or on the attached announcement.
Announcement (Flyer)
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The Dryland Science for Development Consortium (DSD) is organising a Poster Exhibition for CCD COP9 in Buenos Aires (21. Sept. - 2. Oct. 2009). We welcome scientists of European DesertNet to respond to the Call for Posters. Attached are the poster announcement and the poster guidelines. Deadlines are shown.
This Poster Exhibition is part of the 1st Scientific Conference of the UNCCD titled, "Bio-physical and Socio-economic Monitoring and Assesment of Desertification and Land Degradation to Support Decision Making in Land and Water Management", which is being organised by DSD.
For more information on the Conference and the Poster Exhibition contact:
Weblink 1
Weblink 2
Poster Session Announcement
Poster guidelines
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Two training courses are jointly organized by the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza (IAMZ), and the European Commission, through the DeSeurvey Project (A surveillance System for Assessing and Monitoring Desertification - FP6 . Global Change and ecosystems). They will be held in
Zaragoza and given by well qualified lectures from universities, research centres and consultancy firms participating in DeSurvey Integrated project. For further information please see Desurvey project web site (www.desurvey.net) or link to the following links:
Course 1: ASSESSING AND MONITORING OF DESERTIFICATION AND LAND USE SYSTEMS VULNERABILITY. Zaragoza (Spain), 28 September - 3 October 2009
Info in English:
Info in French:
Info in Spanish:
Course 2: DESERTIFICATION FORECASTING IN THE MEDIUM TERM. Zaragoza (Spain), 18-23 January 2010
Info in English:
Info in French:
Info in Spanish:
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In Cooperation between the French Committee on Desertification (CSFD) and European DesertNet, global indicators for assessment of Desertification and the implementation of strategic objectives are now available. The project was coordinated by Prof. Dr. Marc Bied-Charreton (member of the Steering Committee of European DesertNet and Chair of CSFD). more ... |
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The Announcement for the International Scientific Conference and Consultation "UNDERSTANDING DESERTIFICATION AND LAND DEGRADATION TRENDS" (22 to 24 September 2009) is now available on the website of the UNCCD. This Conference will be take place back-to-back with CCD COP-9 in Buenos Aires. Argentina.
Second Announcement (PDF-Document)
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European DesertNet, ICARDA, ICRISAT, JRC-IES and UNU-INWEH are members of the Dryland Science for Development Consortium (DSD). DSD has organised 3 working groups to scientifically prepare the first scientific-style CST Conference which will take place from 22nd to 24th September 2009, back-to-back with the CCD COP9 in Buenos Aires, Argentina (21st September to 2nd October 2009). The DSD Working Group III on “Monitoring and Assessment of Desertification and Land Degradation: Economic and Social Drivers and Knowledge Management” had its first international 3-day scientific meeting workshop at the Biocentre Klein Flottbek and Botanical Garden, University of Hamburg, Germany.The group discussed the contents and the structure for the compilation of a White Paper which will be one important document to prepare the first scientific-style CST-Conference. The meeting was sponsored by the GTZ CCD Project. For further information on the meeting see also MEA Bulletin (66th issue), page 5 "Preparations for UNCCD Scientific Conference Underway" (PDF-Download). DSD Working Groups I and II will be meeting in April 2009. The documents of DSD WGI, WGII and WGIII will be available for global consultation from 18th May to 12th June 2009.
Download MEA Bulletin - 66th issue (PDF)
view larger photo
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The meeting is part of the preparoty process leading to the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CST) in May 2009. The topics of CSD 16 and also CSD 17 focus on agriculture, rural development, drought, desertification and Africa.
Briefing note (PDF-Document)
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This first scientific and technical-style conference on bio-physical and socio-economic monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation, to support decision-making in land and water management is being jointly prepared by the Dryland Science for Development Consortium (European DesertNet, ICARDA, ICRISAT, JRC-IES and UNU-INWEH) and CST. The conference will take place back-to-back with CCD COP-9 in Argentina in late 2009.
First Announcement International Scientific Conference and Consultation (PDF-Document)
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In preparation of the first scientific-style conference titled "Bio-physical and socio-economic monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation, to support decision-making in land and water management" of the CST which will take place back to back with CCD COP-9 in late 2009, we invite you to review a first proposal of indicators as compiled under the coordination of Prof. Marc Bied-Charetton who is member in the Steering Committee of European DesertNet and Chair of the French Scientific Committee on Desertification (CSDF). more ... |
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Many African countries aim to achieve both poverty reduction and sustainable land management. However, information on the exact relationship between these goals has gaps. The newly published report titled
Linkages between Land Management, Land Degradation, and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa
The Case of Uganda
delineates the strong linkage between poverty and land management.
Authors: Ephraim Nkonya, John Pender, Kayuki C. Kaizzi, Edward Kato, Samuel Mugarura, Henry Ssali, and James Muwonge
(IFPRI Publications / Research Report No. 159, December 2008)
Download full report (1.1 MB)
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International scientific representation at CST1 and CRIC-7 in Istanbul, Turkey
Members of European DesertNet and the Association of Desert*Net Germany presented the importance of national and international scientific networks as a fundamental basis for providing best practices on biophysical and socio-economic indicators to support the implementation of the aims of the UNCCD. At a jointly organised science booth in Istanbul, Turkey, European DesertNet and Desert*Net Germany are presenting the Dryland Science for Development Consortium (DSD). The DSD core partners are leaders in advanced research (European DesertNet and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre - Institute for the Environment and sustainability), international research-for-development (ICARDA and ICRISAT), and strategic analysis / knowledge management (UNU-INWEH).
At the First Special Session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST S-1), the DSD Consortium was presented and discussed at the Plenary. The DSD Consortium now has the go ahead by the CST Bureau to start with the scientific preparations of the first scientific-style conference of the CST which will be held in late 2009 back to back with COP9. More information on the preparation of the conference will be provided to you soon.
more ... |
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The members of the DESIRE EUFP6 project team, in collaboration with Drynet and EniD have written a recent paper in preparation for the Istanbul CRIC meeting.
Download paper (2 MB)
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At the Seventh Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 7) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Istanbul, European DesertNet jointly together with the Association of Desert*Net Germany will be present with a stand for the entire two weeks of the meeting. At this Stand, the Consortium Dryland Science for Development (DSD) will be officially presented. DSD is a consortium of five research organizations with deep and complementary experience on issues of sustainable land management and combating land degradation. European DesertNet is one of the five organizations in the DSD Consortium. The other members are: the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the European Commission Joint Research Centre - Institute for Environment and Sustainability (JRC-IES), and United Nations University's International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
It is the prime task of the DSD consortium to assist the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) and particularly its Committee on Science and Technology (CST) in organizing and fund-raising for the first Scientific-style Conference of the CST on "Bio-physical and socio-economic monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation, to support decision-making in land and water management". The conference will take place in late 2009, back to back with the CCD COP 9 (dates to be finalized by CCD).more ... |
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The second DIVERSITAS Open Science Conference: Biodiversity and society: understanding connections, adapting to change, will be held from 13-16 October 2009, in Cape Town, South Africa more ... |
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EPP-ED Hearing Desertification - Socio-economic, agricultural and forestry impacts and their political consequences
On 15th May 2008 a one-day hearing on Desertification took place at the European Parliament which was jointly organised by the EPP-ED Group and European DesertNet.
The Meeting was chaired by Struan Stevenson, Chairman of WG"C", Vice-Chairman of the EPP-ED Group. Numerous members of the European DesertNet Member States, third countries and students from Brussels University representatives of UNCCD, ICARDA/ICRISAT, DG JRC Ispra and the Global Mechanism participated at the hearing. The MEPs clearly underscored that scientists should not only describe the phenomenon of desertification but start providing information to policy makers. European DesertNet is clearly recognised as a necessary tool for strengthening such a science-policy interface at the European and at the global level. To date this scientific network already has 270 members from 46 countries. Policy can only react adequately to environmental and climate changes if scientifically sound data and information is available on trends, thresholds of changes and the carrying capacities of the environment. At the hearing scientists urged the importance of a stronger political commitment to expand research on useful and standardised indicators and bio-physical and socio-economic monitoring mechanisms to diagnose the status of the land and the trends to support remedial and preventive action and to promote sustainable decision-making in land and water management. The delineation of the economic and social costs of desertification could be a very persuasive tool to strengthen international commitment to tackle this issue.
Download dossier - Update 4 July 2008 (PDF-Document 16.3 MB)
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Mr Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) underscores the necessity that the current food security crisis have to examided also with regard to desertification.
Download press release (PDF-Document)
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Luc Gnadadja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) have released statements on the occasion of African Environment Day - 3 March 2008. "Adapting to Climate Change for Livelihood security in Africa" is the topic of this year´s observance.
Download statement Luc Gnadadja (PDF-Document)
Download statement Ahmed Djoghlaf (PDF-Document)
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European DesertNet will regularly provide its electronic newsletter. Members of European DesertNet will be informed in advance of the deadlines for handing in contributions for upcoming editions.
(see main menu)more ... |
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As the 16th and 17th sessions of the third implementation cycle of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) will focus on
the issues of Agriculture, Rural development, Land, Drought, Desertification, and Africa, this year’s celebration of 17 of June will highlight the theme "Combating Land Degradation for Sustainable Agriculture". This will certainly constitute a concrete way to support the discussions of the 16th and 17th sessions and provide useful inputs that
could be brought to the attention of the CSD, in the current cycle. more ... |
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Announcement: Conference On Desertification
23 January 2008, Ghent, Belgiummore ... |
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On 27th November 2007, a delegation of European DesertNet was received by Members of European Parliament in the European Parliament to discuss closer cooperation between scientists and policy makers for supporting sustainable development in Drylands. Both sides agreed to cooperate closer in agriculural topics. A follow-on workshop is currently being planned in close cooperation between European DesertNet and MEPs. |
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Announcement: Third International Meeting on Environmental Biotechnology and Engineering (3 IMEBE)
September 21-25, 2008 Palma de Mallorca, Spainmore ... |
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On 1st October 2007, Mr. Luc Gnacadja started work as the Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. Mr Gnacadja is Former Minister of Environment, Housing and Urban Development of Benin. |
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Oasis - a global agricultural research-for-development partnership against desertification - joined the User Board of European DesertNet in February 2007. At the Side Event in Madrid both scientific bodies signed a Memorandum of Understanding which shall be in effect for the next five years. Considering that NGOs play a crucial role in the issues of the UNCCD, European DeserNet also invited Drynet to give a presentation at the Side Event. more ... |
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Over 30 scientists from France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Spain, Syria and the United Kingdom discussed the development of an international terrestrial observation system for land use impacts and climate change in drylands. As the response to the topic was high a series of thematic workshops is now being planned by European DesertNet. The Workshop was organised by the Secretariat of European DesertNet at the Biocentre Klein Flottbek and Botanical Garden, Hamburg and funded by the University of Hamburg. The meeting was hosted at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg more ... |
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The conceptual development of integrated terrestrial and space-borne observation concepts in the field of desertification and land degradation will be discussed at the meeting. The topics of the lectures as suggested for 6th September 2007 are conceived as an interdisciplinary entrance gate to the follow-up discussions on Dryland Observations of the Working Group of European DesertNet on "Dryland Observation System - including spatial observation" which will take place on 7th September 2007 in Hamburg.
Information on venue, transfer and accomodation in Hamburg please click on one of the following links:
Map
Lecture session S48 (Thursday 6-9-2007)
Circular No.3 (PDF-Document) |
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The Working Group "Dryland Observation Systems" of European DesertNet has organised its first workshop on
"Observation of desertification: Observation and analysis of processes of desertification as controlled by climate change and land use change".
This workshop will take place on 6th and 7th September 2007 at the Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany. We would herewith like to warmly welcome members of European DesertNet and interested colleagues to participate at our meeting in Hamburg and contribute to discussions on multidisciplinary observation methods for desertification. The discussions will be the fundament for eliciting joint and integrated initiatives on dryland observation systems at different scales.more ... |
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Announcement: SHIFT07 - Shift in Thinking
Perspectives of Vulnerability and Hazard Assessment
Potsdam, Germany
October 04-05, 2007more ... |
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Desert Voices: a new online collection of oral testimonies reveals the long-term impact of desertification on people´s lives: Experiences from Sudan and Ethiopia
See more at: http://www.panos.org.uk/global/desertvoices.asp.
Feature articles will be published at:
www.panos.org.uk/newsfeatures/latestfeatures.asp
The authors inform: "The testimonies, photographs and the features can be freely reproduced but please credit Panos London and send an email letting us know to media@panos.org.uk
The testimonies were collected in collaboration with SOS Sahel Ethiopia, Panos Ethiopia, SOS Sahel Sudan, and Panos Sudan.
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The G8 Summit 2007 took place in Heiligendam, Germany. The Summit Declaration (7 June 2007) also discusses Climate Change and Biodiversity issues. more ... |
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Sen. Prof. Bruno Dettori, Italian Ministry of the Environment, Under-Secretary of State for Desertification, informs that Italian Ministry of the Environment sees the recently established European DesertNet network as extremely important to support the implementation of the UN CCD, but also to identify and address relevant urgent issues requiring global attention more ... |
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The publication J.F. Reynolds et al, Global desertification: Building a science for dryland development (Science, May 11 2007; Vol 316, 847-851) is now available more ... |
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The "Scientific conference on Integrated catchment management for hazard mitigation" will be held in Trier (Germany) on 24-26 September 2007. The overall aim of the conference is to present and discuss instruments and strategies for an integrated and sustainable catchment management. more ... |
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European DesertNet was requested by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation to view and comment the draft version of the 10-year strategy plan which is being coordinated by the Intersessional Intergovernmental Working Group (IIWG). The statement of European DesertNet was submitted to the 3rd meeting of the IIWG which took place at the end of April 2007 in Windhoek Namibia. more ... |
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The First Practical Book on European Lobbying Methodology
Download contents and chapter VI: The New Coalitions for free:more ... |
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Climate Change and Human Security: On 17th April 2007, the U.N. Security Council will discuss climate change for the first time. This group of scientists suggests a new way of thinking systematically about the links connecting climate change and international, national, and human security. more ... |
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From Monday,2nd April 2007, scientists who are interested to join European DesertNet can register online.
Please look at membership section of the website or click the following link.more ... |
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In order to raise awareness of the aims and structures of European DesertNet, posters and leaflets, introducing European DesertNet, are now available online. more ... |
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MEA Bulletin (Issue No.23) with reports on the fifth meeting of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification's Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC-5) and the third meeting of the Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. more ... |
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Statement: Ministry of Environment, Coordinator of Spain’s Focal Point Office for UNCCD. Leopoldo Rojo Serrano
“Combating desertification is a key element of Spain’s environmental policy. Our government has supported the UNCCD from the very beginning, and I would like to point out that the existence of Annex IV of the UNCCD for the Northern Mediterranean Countries is one of the results of our commitment. The implementation process of the UNCCD on the ground depends critically of knowledge transfer and good governance. So that the scientific network DesertNet (European DesertNet, E-DN) is of fundamental importance for a better implementation of the Convention." |
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Statement: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Dr. Ralf Wyrwinski, Division 314, Rural Development; Global Food Security
"Combating desertification is an important task in German development cooperation, and that is why Germany has been engaged in supporting the UNCCD from the very beginning. Due to our experiences of the last ten years we are well aware that the implementation process on the ground depends for the most part on knowledge transfer and good governance. It is against this background that scientific networks like DesertNet Germany or the recently founded European based global network on desertfication (European DesertNet, E-DN) are of the utmost importance as knowledge management institutions for a better implementation of the Convention." |
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European DesertNet grows rapidly in membership numbers: 175 members from 25 countries have already signed the declaration. more ... |
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We have extended the member search functions. It is possible now to search
for members in specific working groups.
Participation in one or more working groups is shown in the members list. more ... |
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We have established a QUICK JUMP - Access . See upper left corner. |
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We have established five working groups:
- Science-Policy Interface
- Dryland Observation System
- Economic Drivers and Social-Economic Consequences
- Internal Structures
- Training and Capacity Building
See menu on the left hand side. |
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The members list has been updated again.
163 Members are now in the member list of European Desertnet.more ... |
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The members list has been updated and is now online (110 members).
Kindly check with regard to your name, title and affiliation and send any necessary corrections or additions to the coordination office of European DesertNet. We invite the members of European DesertNet to send us their photos which will be put online next to your name and affiliation.
We would also like to inform you that your Email address, your Telephone and Fax details are temporarily hidden. Kindly inform us, whether you want us to put your Email address online on the website of European DesertNet.more ... |
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The first working meeting of European DesertNet took place on 26.01.2007 in Brussels/Belgium in the Permanent Representative of Germany. Representatives of the UNCCD/CST, the EC and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) were invited as observers to the meeting.
At this one-day meeting, the Steering Committee and Advisory Board of European DesertNet unanimously nominated Prof. Dr. Carlos San Juan Mesonada (Department of Economics, University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain) as the Chair of European DesertNet.
The Steering Committee and Advisory Board of European DesertNet formulated 5 Topics and working groups for European DesertNet. |
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The official website of European DesertNet is now online. We encourage you to contribute with suggestions and relevant news on research on desertification. |
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