The Second International Conference on Desertification will be hosted by the Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR) of Ben Gurion University of the Negev on December 14-17, 2008. The conference will bring together leading scientists, government officials, NGO leaders and the general public engaged in combating desertification and increasing the sustainability of dryland development.

The recent Millennium Ecosystems Assessment estimated that desertification directly affects more people than any other global environemtal problem facing the international community. Degradation of drylands over vast areas of the globe has enormous economic, social and ecological implications, especially in developing countries.

Recently, the Drylands Development Paradigm (DDP) has received considerable attention. This year’s conference agenda includes presentation and case studies focusing on the implications of the paradigm for partnerships between developing and developed countries as well as for adaptation to climate change in drylands.

The conference is co-sponsored by UNESCO, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Netafim - Water solutions for agriculture.

In November 2006, the BIDR held the First International Conference on Desertification, co-sponsored by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. More than 250 scientists, field workers and government, NGO and international agency officials from over thirty countries convened to consider a range of related issues, thereby generating collaborations, research, and policy initiatives. Continuing in the same spirit, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is the international partner for the 2008 conference.

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Hundreds of people from across the globe converged on this Negev research hub December 14-17, 2008 to discuss world-wide desertification and examine ways of combating the encroachment of deserts. The four-day conference is not only an opportunity for Israel to highlight its innovations to the world, but a chance for the 350 participants to share their experiences of how to curb desertification and sustain livelihoods in drylands. Organized by the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the conference is being held under the auspices of UNESCO with the support of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netafim and a full range of partners from across the region.

Prof. Avigad Vonshak, director of BIDR, welcomed the participants, who came from more than 55 different countries, encouraging them interact and learn from one another. "The issues of desertification are complex, so the solutions will have to be all the more creative. There is no greater way to create this kind of knowledge than at international and regional gatherings of this kind."

UNESCO representative Dr. Thomas Schaaf praised Israel's lead in developing solutions for desert living. "Israeli scientists are probably among the leading experts when it comes to management of desertification," Schaff told the opening plenum. He added that UNESCO believes many countries can benefit from Israel’s research on desert issues. Dr. Schaaf also announced the establishment of a special UNESCO chair in combating desertification at Ben-Gurion University's Blaustein Institute, as an expression of the central role the institute plays in this field.

The conference saw a mosaic of participants from across the world, including some 90 brought by the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s MASHAV program, which brings officials to Israel from across the developing world to share its know-how and technologies that Israel employed in its own development.

"Seventy-five percent of our country is desert and we hope to see how Israeli expertise can help us," said Ahmed Dicko, a government agriculture coordinator from Timbuktu, Mali.

The first day was devoted to defining the challenges of soil degradation and drylands and setting the stage for more intensive work on international cooperation.

"The challenge of desertification is one that has not yet been met. There are technical solutions to prevent soil degradation. We are collecting the experts to think together. They come from around the world to learn from us. We are to be the light onto the nations, but let's do it without thinking of the commercial advantage," said conference organizer Prof. Alon Tal from the Blaustein Institutes.

Prof. James Reynolds, a world expert on desertification from Duke University and the feature speaker, raised the notion that the term desertification has been given a negative connotation and went on to say that the challenge was mainly to cope with creating a sustainable existence with drylands.

"It is essential that rural people are not seen either the problem or as the victims, but instead as part of the eco system," Reynolds said.

"We are determined to emphasis the positive. Historically the negative images of 'woe is me' dominate the literature. We think the UNCCD (United Nations Conference on Combating Desertification) needs to focus on the positive aspects of living in the drylands," he added.

Later, in an afternoon session, Mansour Abu Rashid, a retired general from the Royal Jordanian Army, warmly welcomed a group of participants who came to hear about strategies for living in the drylands. "I am a military man, but I have been involved in enough of the peace negotiations between Israel and Jordan to know that our two countries and the Palestinians suffer from a shortage of water," said Rashid. "I am sure with cooperation we can solve the problems of arid areas in the Middle East."