The 8th International Conference on Dryland Development marks the beginning of the United Nations’ International Year of Deserts and Desertification 2006

The International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC) held its 8th International Conference on Dryland Development (ICDD) in Beijing, China, on 25-28 February. The conference, whose theme focused on how humankind can work with nature to sustainably develop the drylands, was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and cosponsored by the United Nations University (UNU) of Tokyo, Japan; Arid Land Research Center of Tottori, Japan; Dryland Research Institute (DRI) of Nevada, United States; and Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (CAREERI) of Lanzhou, China.

Supporting the commission in organizing the conference were the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development, CAS, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Organization of Islamic Conference Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The conference attracted some 200 participants from 26 countries and five international organizations.

Adel El-Beltagy, president of IDDC and director general of ICARDA, chaired the inaugural session. Li Jiayang, vice president of CAS, was the chief guest.

The 8th ICDD was the first major event heralding the beginning of the United Nations’ Year of Deserts and Desertification 2006. The themes covered by the conference included

• soil and water conservation and degradation;
• dust-storm processes;
• range management;
• forage and livestock production;
• biodiversity and ethnobotany;
• stress physiology;
• renewable energy;
• indigenous and traditional knowledge and heritage;
• sustainable development of oases, desert communities and socioeconomic studies, and the role of nongovernmental organizations; and
• applying new technologies and technology transfer in crop improvement for dry areas.

A panel discussion on implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification generated great interest. On view during the conference was an exhibition of publications and posters from the CGIAR Centers ICARDA, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, International Food Policy Research Institute, World Agroforestry Centre, and WorldFish Center, as well as from the CGIAR Secretariat, CAREERI and DRI.

In the closing session, Hans van Ginkel, rector of UNU, announced the launch of a Central and West Asia and North Africa + Partnership with ICARDA to develop human capacity for research on developing drylands. He said the partnership would harness synergies in the existing networks and capabilities of participating institutions