World Soil Day 2015, December 5th.

 Всемирный день почвы, 5 декабря.
 世界土壤日, 12月5日.
 World Soil Day, 5 december.
 Día Mundial del Suelo, 05 de diciembre.
 Journée mondiale des sols, le 5 décembre.
 يوم التربة العالم، 5 ديسمبر.

 Тема 2015: "Почвы прочную основу для жизни»
 2015年主題：“土了堅實的基礎生活”
Theme 2015 : 'Soils a solid ground for life'
 Tema de 2015: 'suelos una base sólida para la vida'
 Thème 2015: «sols une base solide pour la vie»
 موضوع عام 2015: "التربة أرضية صلبة للحياة"


United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World Soil Day 2015.

Sustainable soil management is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals — many of which reflect the centrality of soils to sustain life, food, and water.
We need to ensure the sustainable use of our terrestrial ecosystems while we combat climate change and its impacts.  The carbon sequestration capacity of soils is an essential contribution to mitigating climate change.
The challenge before us is clear.  The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that about 33 per cent of global soils are already degraded.  This trend must be reversed through sustainable soil management practices.
Soils are the foundation of food systems.  They are critical for achieving food security and nutrition.  Only healthy soils will produce healthy food with the best nutritional value possible.  They also aid the production of pharmaceuticals and genetic resources — and contribute to water storage and purification.
Let us promote sustainable soil management rooted in proper soil governance and sound investments.  Together, we can promote the cause of soils, a truly solid ground for life.

Ban Ki-moon 

United Nations Secretary-General

 FORUM : The World Soil Day campaign aims to connect people with soils and raise awareness on their critical importance in our lives.

• World Soil Day - December 5
• 2015 as International Year of Soils 

World Soil Day celebration and closure of the International Year of the Soils 2015 – “Soils, a solid ground for life”

Special event on the occasion of the World Soil Day celebration and closure of the International Year of the Soils 2015 – “Soils, a solid ground for life” (co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Italy, Qatar and Thailand, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP)).

World Soil Day campaign

EVENTS :  

 The WSD 2015 will be celebrated on the 4th of December at FAO headquarters in Rome and FAO regional offices. National events will also be organized so make sure to regularly check the map of the WSD2015 events and/or register your event. The theme for this year will be “Soils a solid ground for life”.

2015 as International Year of Soils (IYS2015)

 

Event title: Closing event of the 2015 International Year of Soils
Organizer: European Commission and the authorities of the regions Brussels Capital, Flanders and Wallonia
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Brussels Environment Site of Tour et Taxis 86 C/3000, av. du Port 1000 Brussels


Event title: Soil and water resources for sustainable agriculture
Organizer: Technological Education Institute of Epirus, Dept. Agricultural Technology, Lab of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering
Date: 7 Dec 2015 - 7 Dec 2015
Location: TEIEP Kostakioi Campus, FLA Building, Room B1

Event title: Celebration of International Year of Soils 2015 – Achievements and Future Challenges
Organizer: IUSS, Joint FAO/IAEA
Date: 7 Dec 2015 - 7 Dec 2015
Location: Vienna International Centre, Vienna

Event title: World Soil Day Movie Night
Organizer: Colville Tribes Environmental Trust Program
Date: 7 Dec 2015 - 7 Dec 2015
Location: Colville Tribal Government Center

Event title: World Soil Day 2015- Discover the treasure in your hands
Organizer: Voluntary Service Overseas ICS Team, Ilesa
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Nigeria Ilesa- Igangan


Event title: Awareness about Soil testing & Soil health
Organizer: Gujarat State fertilizers & Chemicals Limited
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Vadodatra


Event title: World Soil Day Celebration 2015 in India
Organizer: Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation, Kerala
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Event title: Young Scientists Conference in International Year of Soils 2015
Organizer: Yazd University
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Yazd

Event title: “Voiceless Soils – Conserve and utilize it for building a food-secured Nepal.”
Organizer: Ministry of Agricultural Development, Nepalese Society of Soil Science, and FAO of UN
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Kathmandu

Event title: International Soil Health Day and SHC distribution
Organizer: Krishi Vigayan Kendra,BAU-Ranchi
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Gamharia

Event title: Celebrate Soil - Know Soil, Know Life
Organizer: DEDJTR VIC GOV and Soil Science Australia
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: ACMI, The Cube, Melbourne and Federation Square

Event title: Save our soils
Organizer: Hyderabad Chapter Indian society of soil science
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Hyderabad
Website: issshyd.org

Event title: Soil Profile Study on World Soil Day, 2015
Organizer: Centurion University of Technology and Management
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Paralakhemundi, Gajapati, Odisha, India

Event title: World Soil Day 2015 at Discovery Park of America
Organizer: Discovery Park of America & The University of Tennessee at Martin
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Discovery Park of America

Event title: Soil day 2015 : la vita sotto i nostri piedi
Organizer: Consiglio dell'Ordine Nazionale dei Dottori Agronomi e dei Dottori Forestali.
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Città dell’Altra Economia, Largo Dino Frisullo

Event title: Ethiopian Soil Campaign: World Soil Day 2015
Organizer: Ethiopian Soil Campaign Consortium, led by Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource and having various development organizations as active organizers
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa

Event title: Celebrate World Soil Day 2015 at Hawkwood College
Organizer: CCANW Biodynamic Association and British Society of Soil Science
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Hawkwood College, Painswick Old Road, Stroud GL6 7QW

Event title: Cuarto Seminario sobre Manejo y Conservación del Suelo y Agua en Chiapas
Organizer: José Luis Arellano Monterrosas, Juan Alberto Rodríguez Morales, Jaime López Martínez y Silvia Ramos Hernández
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Centro de Convenciones de la Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas en Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas

Event title: Super Soils
Organizer: The Edible Gardening Team, James Hutton Institute and British Society of Soil Science
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Atrium, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Event title: ERG CONFERENCE 2015 'Advances in Ecological Research and Soil Sustainability'
Organizer: Ecology Research Group, Canterbury Christ church University
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Canterbury

Event title: International Seminar on "Soil Health for Sustainable Future (SHSF 2015)"
Organizer: Department of Environmental Science
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Salem, Tamil Nadu

Event title: World Soil Day 2015 in Egypt
Organizer: Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University

Event title: Fair@Square: Unearthing Goodness - From Soil to Shelf
Organizer: Moral Fairground
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 6 Dec 2015
Location: Federation Square, Melbourne

Event title: Sols, Biodiversité et Climat
Organizer: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
Date: 5 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle

Event title: Festive Family Saturday and Christmas Market 2015
Organizer: Hauer & Wirth
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Durslade Farm, Dropping Lane, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0NL

Event title: VI Mullapäev – mõeldes Eestimaa mustale kullale – mullale! / Soil Day Celebration
Organizer: Estonian Soil Science Society
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia

Event title: III Simpósio Agrarista da UBAU em comemoração ao Dia Mundial do Solo
Organizer: União Brasileira dos Agraristas Universitários - UBAU - www.ubau.org.br
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Porto Alegre


Event title: Soils Conference 2015
Organizer: Universidad del Valle
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Valle University, Auditorium 2, CUV Meléndez Campus

Event title: World Soil Day 2015 Celebration in Hollidaysburg.
Organizer: Seed-Balls.com
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Hollidaysburg, PA

Event title: World soil day 2015 celebration activity in Canada
Organizer: Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Event title: Celebration of Soil
Organizer: Utah State University and USGS
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: USU Moab


Event title: The soils in the region of Western Greece – Future challenges
Organizer: TEI of Western Greece
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Western Greece

Event title: Soils and urban ecosystems
Organizer: Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Unitied Nation University-LRT, Icelandic UN associations
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Kaffi Loki Skolavordustig

Event title: Awareness on the importance of soil
Organizer: Green Club, The American college, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 5 Dec 2015
Location: Madurai Tamilnadu Indiua

Event title: Open Day for Soil Ecology Institute
Organizer: VermEcology (vermecology@gmail.com)
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Nogeyama Yokohama

Event title: Organic Production and Soil Health
Organizer: Agricultural Land Management Division
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: University of the West Indies Mona

Event title: Jornada Día Internacional del Suelo 2015
Organizer: AACS - INBA (CONICET-UBA)
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Pabellón Bioquímica Facultad Agronomía UBA

Event title: Showcasing our soils on World Soil Day 2015 in Victoria, Australia.
Organizer: WEST GIPPSLAND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Inverloch Community Centre 16 A'Beckett Street, Inverloch

Event title: Lecture ''Making Soil Science Sexy''
Organizer: The Tasmanian Branch of Soil Science
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Aurora Lecture Theatre, IMAS Building, 20 Castray Esplandade, Hobart waterfront


Event title: World Soil Day 2015 in Montenegro
Organizer: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Montenegro

Event title: World Soil Day 2015 'Soils, a solid ground for life'
Organizer: The Pacific Comunity
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Nabua

Event title: World Soil Day 2015 Celebration in Chicago.
Organizer: Dr. Bala Chaudhary
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University Chicago


Event title: Vernissage of The Soil Museum _ MIdA
Organizer: The MIdA Foundation - Integrated Museum of the Environment
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Pertosa (SA)

Event title: WSD 2015 FAO celebration
Organizer: FAO
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: FAO

Event title: 3 actions for the soils
Organizer: Naturefriends Greece
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 13 Dec 2015
Location: 72, Antheon, 72, 12461, Chaidari - Athens

Event title: IPLA WORLD SOIL DAY 2015
Organizer: IPLA- Regione Piemonte
Date: 4 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: Turin

Event title: World Soil Day 2015 -UBC
Organizer: UBC Soil, Water & Sustainability Group, Pacific Regional Society of Soil Science (PRSSS)
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: H. R. MacMillan Building (2357 Main Mall)


Event title: Jornada Nacional por el Día Mundial del Suelo 2015 in Cuba
Organizer: Cuban Society of Soil Science and Soil Institute
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: Havana

Event title: Colloque de la Journée Mondiale des Sols 2015 ''Les sols et le climat''
Organizer: Ministère de l’Ecologie, du Développement Durable et de l’Energie (MEDDE) et du Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Agroalimentaire et de la Forêt (MAAF)
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: Salle Monnerville, Palais du Luxembourg 26 ter, rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris


Event title: Travelling Field Workshop on Awareness regarding Soil Health in students and farmers
Organizer: ICAR- Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Regional Research Station, Chhalesar, Agra 282006 India
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Regional Research Station Chhalesar, Agra, 282006

Event title: World Soil Day Meetup in International Year of Soils 2015 at World's Biggest Soil Museum
Organizer: Green Fingerprints Organization
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala

Event title: World Soil Day Talk and Discussion - The Soil Under Our Feet: Re-discovering Our Most Important Natural Resource
Organizer: Dr. Richard G. Donald, Hilary Skov-Nielson
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: Halifax Central Library

Event title: Weltbodentag- International Meeting Soilmap
Organizer: Fachabteilung Landentwicklung
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: AMT DER NÖ LANDESREGIERUNG, ST. PÖLTEN LANDHAUSPLATZ 1 , HAUS 12 3100 ST. PÖLTEN

Event title: Soil Health for Sustainable Future (SHSF - 2015)
Organizer: Department of Environmental Science, Periyar University, Salem, TN, India
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

Event title: Lanzamiento del Sello Conmemorativo del Año Internacional de los Suelos 2015
Organizer: El Comité Nacional del Año Internacional de los Suelos, integrado por FAO, MGAP (Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca), MVOTMA (Ministerio de Vivienda, Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente), UdelaR (Universidad de la República), INIA (Institu
Date: 3 Dec 2015 - 3 Dec 2015
Location: Facultad de Agronomía – UdelaR, Av. Garzón 780, Montevideo

Event title: World Soils Day 2015 Event ''A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself''
Organizer: Portcullis House
Date: 2 Dec 2015 - 2 Dec 2015
Location: Macmillan Room, Portcullis House, Palace of Westminster London

Event title: Dirt! The Movie
Organizer: Foxlowe Arts Centre Film Group
Date: 2 Dec 2015 - 2 Dec 2015
Location: Foxlowe Arts Centre

Event title: COTE D'IVOIRE NATIONAL SOIL DAY CELEBRATION: SOIL AS DEVELOPMENT RESSOURCE
Organizer: IVORIAN ASSOCIATION OF SOIL SPECIALISTSL
Date: 2 Dec 2015 - 2 Dec 2015
Location: KORHOGO

Event title: Distribution of Soil Health Cards on world soil day in collaboration with ST SIRI NGO WARANGAL TELANGANA
Organizer: ICAR-IIRR,Hyderabad in collaboration with S&T SIRI WARANGAL, Telangana, India
Date: 2 Dec 2015 - 2 Dec 2015
Location: DRR Auditoium, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana


Event title: Svjetski dan zemljišta
Organizer: Ministry of agriculture and rural development
Date: 1 Dec 2015 - 1 Dec 2015
Location: University of Donja Gorica, Podgorica

Event title: Great Mud Pie Bake Off
Organizer: dirtgirlworld
Date: 1 Dec 2015 - 7 Dec 2015
Location: secret location soon to be announced!


Event title: Week Soils 2015 - FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium
Organizer: Chair of Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, FAO
Date: 30 Nov 2015 - 4 Dec 2015
Location: European Parliament

Event title: Year of Soils - Century of Environment - Age of awareness
Organizer: Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Unitied Nations University-LRT, Icelandic UN associations
Date: 25 Nov 2015 - 25 Nov

Event title: How to Combact Desertification?
Organizer: College of Agriculture / Baghdad University- Iraq
Date: 4 Oct 2015 - 4 Oct 2015
Location: Desertification Combact Dept./ College of Agriculture- Baghdad university

Our soils under threat

Publication :

•  World Soil Charter (WSC)

 The first World Soil Charter (WSC) was conceived and formulated, negotiated and adopted by the FAO member countries in the 1981 FAO Conference. It was a major normative instrument agreed by member states, and that the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) was duty-bound to promote its principles. The challenges faced by the world have become more evident and severe in the intervening three decades.

 GSP Partners considered that the 13 principles listed in the charter are still valid, but needed to be updated and revised in light of new scientific knowledge gained over the past 30 years, especially with respect to new issues such as soil pollution and its consequences for the environment, climate change adaptation and mitigation and urban sprawl impacts on soil availability and functions. The Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils (ITPS) was tasked to produce a new version of this WSC making use of wide consultations within the international soil community in order to assist with the process. Coinciding with 2015 the International Year of Soils, member countries during the 39th FAO Conference unanimously endorsed the new World Soil Charter as a vehicle to promote and institutionalize sustainable soil management at all levels.

•  The Soil Atlas 2015 - facts and figures about Earth, Land and Fields.

Soil Atlas 2015

 The Soil Atlas 2015 presents facts and figures about earth, land and fields; its broad ranging significance and its current state in Germany, Europe and the world.

• Status of the World Soil Resources Report to be released on 4 December 2015

 The purpose of the report is to carry out the first ever global assessment of soils and soil change
The Status of the World's Soil Resources report (SWSR) will be released on 4 December in FAO headquarters, Rome.  The report will be officially launched at a high-level event in Rome which will also mark this year's celebration of World Soil Day and the official closure of the 2015 International Year of Soils.

What is the report about?

The report is based on the assessment of more than 200 environmental scientists of the state-of-knowledge on soil resources and soil change. It reports on the major soil changes globally and in more detail on regional changes. The report provides documented scientific data on soil erosion, soil organic carbon change, soil biodiversity changes, soil acidification, soil compaction, soil sealing, soil salinization and sodification, soil contamination, soil nutrient changes and water logging.

What is the purpose of the report? 

The purpose of the report is to carry out the first ever global assessment of soils and soil change based on an extensive review of published scientific literature.

Where can I access the report?
The report will be available for download directly from the FAO Document Repository.

Soil Renaissance

 Launched on Dec. 5, 2013, the Soil Renaissance is a movement to make soil health the cornerstone of land use management decisions, and bring attention to the critical role of healthy soils in vibrant natural resource systems.

     

World Day to Combat Desertification 2015, June 17

Día Mundial de Lucha contra la Desertificación,17 de junio.
Всемирный день борьбы с опустыниванием и засухой,17 июня.
Journée mondiale de la lutte contre la désertification et la sécheresse, 17 juin.
防治荒漠化和干旱世界日, 6月17日.
World Day to Combat Desertification , 17 June.

World Day to Combat Desertification 2015 - June 17

Тема Дня 2015 года: «Бесплатной еды не бывает. Инвестируйте в здоровье почв»

2015年主题：“通过可持续粮食系统实现所有人的粮食安全”

Tema de 2015: « lograr la seguridad alimentaria para todos a través de sistemas alimentarios sostenibles »

Thème 2015 : « L'objectif d'une sécurité alimentaire pour tous à travers des systèmes alimentaires durables »

Theme 2015 :'' No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soils''


United Nations Secretary-General's Message for the World Day to combat Desertification 2015  “Invest in healthy soils”.

 Land degradation and desertification undercut human rights, starting with the right to food.  Nearly 1 billion people lack adequate nutrition, and those living off degraded areas are among the most affected.  Their situation could worsen if land degradation, as projected, reduces global food production by 12 per cent by 2035. 

Food security is also impacted by the decline in water resources.  Due to land degradation there is less water and snow being stored in the ground.  In 10 years, two out of every three people in the world could be living under stressed water conditions. We degrade 12 million hectares of productive land every year – an area the size of Benin or Honduras.  More than half our farmland is degraded, and only 10 per cent is improving.  About 500 million hectares could be restored cost-effectively, rather than being abandoned.  If we do not change how we use our land, we will have to convert an area the size of Norway into new farmland every year to meet future needs for food, freshwater, biofuels and urban growth.  This would cause deforestation and other negative environmental impact.  

The threat does not stop there.  Through land degradation and other inappropriate land use, we release about a quarter of the greenhouse gases warming the planet.  Climate change and unsustainable land use, particularly by agriculture, are contributing to the decline of freshwater resources in all regions of the world.  As a consequence, global food production is projected to fall by 2 per cent every decade. 

A world where all rights to food, water and human security are guaranteed is possible.  But we need to change course and start securing every hectare of land that can provide food or freshwater.  Land is a renewable resource, but only if we invest in land degradation neutrality, which has been proposed by United Nations Member States for the post-2015 development agenda. We must avoid degrading more land and, at the same time, rehabilitate all the degraded land that we can.  Then, we will also be able to make rapid steps towards controlling climate change. 

Our lives and civilizations depend on the land.  Let us invest in healthy soils to secure our rights to food and freshwater.

Ban Ki-moon

 

No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soils

Other Statements :

  MESSAGE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY BRAULIO F. DE SOUZA DIAS on the occasion of the WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION,17 JUNE 2015

  Message from President Tarja Halonen, UNCCD Drylands Ambassador on the occasion of the WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, 17 JUNE 2015.

 Message from Michel Jarraud, World Meteorrological Organization's  Secretary-General on the occasion of the WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, 17 june 2015.

 Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification, 17 June 2015.

 Message of Monique Barbut Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification On the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification, 17 june 2015.



The World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) is observed worldwide on 17 June every year.  The focus this year is “attainment of food security for all through sustainable food systems.”

With the slogan, ‘No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soil’, the 2015 observance calls for:

(1) A change in our land use practices through smart agriculture and adaptation to changing climate, especially in the dry fragile parts of the world where food shortages are becoming more and more severe

(2) Access to technology and land rights for small holder farmers who safeguard the environment and meet the food needs of millions of households, especially among the poorest households

(3) A balance in the land use for ecology and consumption, drawing on the best practices

(4) More investments in sustainable land practices so that sustainable food systems become the normal practice and

(5) More effective action on desertification whose effects on security, peace and stability are invisible yet real for the affected countries due especially to food and water scarcity and environmentally forced migration. 

 

The Day will feature a global observance event in Milan, Italy, during the 2015 UN Expo as well as National and local observances.

To start the preparations, the concept note and logo  are now available. All campaign materials will be posted on this page.

If you are planning to host an event, send us a short paragraph with information about the date, venue and planned activity. It will be posted on our website.

All countries use the land for food and water. Make sure your country celebrates the land by joining us to share the message that we need to preserve and improve its fruitfulness.

 

Events :  Global Observance Event, Milan Italy

                WDCD around the world

Africa

Mali
The UNCCD National Focal Point of Mali (Ingénieur des Eaux et Forêts et Chef de Section Etudes et Recherche, Agence de l'Environnement et du Développement Durable) organizes the national observance of the Day which starts from the World Environment Day on 5 June until the World Day to Combat Desertification on 17 June.  The observance involves all sector partners: agriculture, livestock, fisheries, transport, planning, local authorities, technical and financial partners. The observance ceremonial opening is chaired by the President or the Prime Minister, along with the Minister of the Environment.  During the observance period, various activities are organized on global challenges such as desertification, climate change, loss of biodiversity, food security, poverty communities, etc.  Radio and TV stations organize debates on food security, land degradation, promoting best practices, climate change and biodiversity.

Tanzania

To commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification this coming June 17th, the Journalist Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) will conduct a forum to bring together government officials, community representatives of degraded and quickly decertifying lands, women’s groups and journalists. The aim of the event is to highlight the situation of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) and to commemorate this year’s slogan, “No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soils.”JET will launch the guidelines for mainstreaming the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification into sectorial policies, plans and programmes. Additionally, the Compendium of Best practices for sustainable land management in Tanzania and the National Action Program to Combat Desertification will be introduced.

Key speakers will be “land witnesses,” men and women from various villages who will give their testimonies of how they have personally been deprived of their lands. Many will discuss the ways water scarcity and drought affected themselves and their families.

JET will also publish articles, be featured in radio programs and print its own Kasuku Kiswahili newspaper containing the WDCD messages and slogan.

   

African Union

On the ocassion of the WDCD 2015 the African Union issued an opinion pice on desertification . More  

Asia

Bhutan

Bhutan plans to celebrate World Day to Combat Desertification in Trashigang District, Thongrong village. The village has 60 households. The activity comprises of grass hedgerows establishment along contour line and stone  bunding in sloppy dry land  covering approx. 60 acres. The construction of stone check-dams in gullies, bio engineering and plantation in degraded land are other activity. The program starts from 20 May and ends on the Day, 17 June 2015. The Programme will be organized by National Soil Service Center under Department Of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture & Forest, Bhutan in collaboration with Trashigang Dzongkhag with financial support from UNDP and GEF- Small Grant Programme.

Malaysia

The research centre Crops For the Future (CFF) the the world’s first centre dedicated to research on underutilised crops for food and non-food uses focusing on the uses of agricultural biodiversity to diversity crop and agricultural systems is organising the following at their Field Research Centre on 17 June 2015:

1. Launch of T-100 days to the Official Opening Ceremony of CFF new headquarters – Our HQ is scheduled to be officially opened in September 2015. It will house world class plant biotechnology laboratories, controlled-environment rooms, processing and sensory suites
https://youtu.be/0pOYyS0zDCw
https://youtu.be/XU472Ro7aDg

2.  A talk entitled “Combating Desertification with Underutilised Crops” by Dr Ibraheem AlShareef, CFF Field Research Centre Coordinator

3. Tree planting : Azadirachta indica, Moringa oleifera and Anarcardium occidentale – known best for combating desertification

Sri Lanka

The Saviya Development Foundation (Sri Lanka) celebrates the WDCD 2015 through various events, including a tree planting event, awareness raising activities for kids and a national poster/art exhibition.

Europe

Germany

Under the motto "Essen ist keine Selbstverstaendlichkeit. Investiere in gesunde Boeden" Germany organize an art exhibition and evening event at Bonn's botanical garden. The exhebition entitled "Boden.Grund zum Leben" highlights the important role of the world's soils for food security.

France

Desertif'actions 2015 - 10 - 13 June 2015 - Montpellier France

Climate change and the preservation of drylands : time to act !

Desertif'actions 2015 is the Civil society International Forum dedicated to land degradation and combating desertification. The forum will bring together over 300 stakeholders  from over 100 countries from june 10th to june 13th in Montpellier (France).

Civil society organizations, scientists, local government, farmer organizations, private and public institutions… will meet in Montpellier in order to share their concerns and built common positions on desertification and land degradation under a changing climate and its consequences in northern and southern countries!

The Desertif'actions 2015 Program includes:
  - Preparatory meetings in southern countries,
  - One preparatory e-forum, 
  - 3 days collaborative work with panel and group work in Montpellier among international stakeholders,
  - One special day downtown devoted to the general public awareness and cultural and scientific events open to the public.

Three lines of work :
- Desertification and Land Degradation: Integrating climatic evolutions into decision making and action taking
- Development Sustainability in Drylands: Creating greater synergy between the three Rio Conventions
- A Pluralistic and Organized Civil Society: Having a true impact and doing what needs to be done

Desertif'actions 2015 is a project certified Paris 2015, COP 21.

More information on our website : www.desertif-actions.fr/en
Pre-registration is open : http://desertif-actions.fr/en/registrations
Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/desertifactions2015) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/Desertif2015).

Italy

The Desertification Research Center, University of Sassari Nucleo Ricerc (NRD-UNISS) celebrates the 2015 World Day to Combat Desertification

This year, the Desertification Research Centre (NRD-UNISS) will celebrate 2015 World Day to Combat Desertification with two events:

The first event with the title "(Musical) variations on desertification",  will be held on 12th June 2015 at The Conservatory on Music “Luigi Canepa” of the city of Sassari, Italy where the Youth Orchestra of Sardinia will play a variety of songs with water as central focus. Event poster

The second event, with the title “Experiences of integrated water management to combat desertification” will be held on 18th June 2015 and it will be a full day Conference at the Department of Agricultural Science of the University of Sassari. The Conference will see the partecipation of various researchers and scientists  from the University of Sassari, the University of Cagliari, the University of Barcelona and the University of Medenine in Tunisia. Concept paper and Agenda

For more information visit the website
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Serbia

On the occation of the WDCD 2015, the renowned Serbian newspaper Politika reported on the issue of land degradation and how sustainable landmanagemet could increase the resilience of land and soil in the view of climate change. (Serbian)  (English unoffical)

Switzerland

This year, Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) in cooperation with Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) and Agroscope will hold a public event, ""Flavours from our soils" – Dialogue and exhibition to mark World Day to Combat Desertification" at University of Bern on 17 June. The event will focus on farmers, their knowledge about soils and its use in agriculture.
See the event flyer
For more information and registration, visit: https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/en/home/aktuell/agenda.html/deza/en/meta/agenda/2015/6/ausstellung-welttag-desertifikationsbekaempfung

Ukraine

Respective governmental bodies and scientific organizations have been preparing relevant activities and WDCD observance events. For instance, the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of the Ukraine (NAASU) has organized 13 events for WDCD including:

May 22
A validation workshop for the developed draft NAP to combat land degradation and desertification in Ukraine, as well as a training session concerning NAP indicators were held. Government agencies, scientific institutions and CSOs participated in the events.

June 11
International Conference: “Agriculture in XXI Century. Problems and Solutions”. Organized by the National Scientific Centre “Institute of Agriculture of NAASU”

June 12
Scientific and Practical Conference: “Measures on Combating Desertification and Droughts”. Organized by the Institute of Agriculture in the Black Sea Region of NAASU.

June 16
A Round Table discussing outcomes of the 3-rd UNCCD Scientific Conference organized by the Institute of Irrigation Farming of  NAASU

June 17
Information regarding the following projects will be published on MENR’s official Web-site.

With the support of the GEF/UNEP project “Development and Alignment of National Action Programme to the UNCCD 10 Years Strategy and Preparation of the Fifth Reporting and Review process,” the Institute of Agro ecology and Natural Resource Use of NAASU and MENR prepared and published a special edition of the scientific journal “Agro ecological Journal” devoted to DLDD.

A competition of schoolchildren’s drawings on the theme: “Protection of Land and Soil” was also organized. Pictures of the winners were used for preparing a poster devoted to 17 June - WDCD. The poster and the “Agro ecological Journal” have been distributed among the Regional (Oblast) State Administrations of the Ukraine and other stakeholders to be used for the observance of WDCD 2015. See drawings 1/ 2 / 3/  and the event poster

June 19
International Conference: “Diversity of Soils: Stretch and Time” organized by the National Scientific Center “O.N. Sokolovsky Institute for Soil Science and Agro chemistry Research of NAASU”

Latin American and the Caribbean

Brazil

Brazil will celebrate this year's WDCD  with an entertaining and colorful   program, including the presentation of the Dryland Champions   certificates, showcase of various projects and early warning systems to combat desertification.

Mexico

As part of the World Day to Combat Desertification, on 17 June, the National Forestry Commission of Mexico with the National Commission of Arid Zones will conduct a conference in Museo del Desierto in Saltillo (Coahuilla). This conference will analyze the importance of the Global Soil Partnership. In addition, 32 federal entities will organize other activities to celebrate this important day. Students, government representatives and all citizens will take part in the National Day of Soil Conservation.

Forum :  World Day to Combat Desertification is observed every year on 17 June.

              2015 TIME FOR GLOBAL ACTION – COMBATTING LAND DEGRADATION

 

​The slogan for this year was crowdsourced. We thank those who sent their suggestions and acknowledge Jihed Ghannem, Sahara and Sahel Observatory, whose proposal was chosen from the submissions.
 
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
For further information, contact:
External Relations, Policy and Advocacy Unit
Email: erpa@unccd.int

 Resources :

• Campaign Pack - Social Media (EN, FR, SP)
• Concept note
• Message to National Focal Points
• WDCD 2015 postcard
• WDCD 2015 Action Tools