General information on World Day to Combat Desertification
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. It is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations. Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land. Over 250 million people are directly affected by desertification, and about one billion people in over one hundred countries are at risk. These people include many of the world's poorest and politically weak citizens.
The World Day to Combat Desertification is observed every June 17th to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification and to remind that Land Degradation Neutrality(LDN) is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and cooperation at all levels.
This year the World Day to Combat Desertification will be celebrated under the theme of 25 years of implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification and beyond, focusing on the path the Convention has taken, and the future the Convention could bring
MASHAV's activities in Israel in 2018-2019
Since the beginning of 2018, 453 trainees from all over the world participated in MASHAV's capacity building programs held in Israel on desertification-related issues. The programs were held in English, Spanish, French and Russian.
• Clean and environment-friendly technologies - in English
• Irrigation and vegetable production - in French
• Sustainable management of water resources for agricultural development - in Spanish
• Irrigation and field crops - in English
• Intensive vegetable production - in English
• Irrigation and fertilization technologies - in French and English
• Innovative technologies for orchards and vineyards - in Russian
• Agricultural development in arid areas - in English
• Advanced irrigation technologies and farmer associations for water management - in French
• Environmental management of nature parks and reserves- in English (Arava Institute of Environmental Studies)
• Vegetable Nursery Management- in English
• Agroecological approaches for sustainable intensive agriculture- in English
• Agricultural and natural resources - changes in the era of globalization - in English
• Urban water technologies and management systems - in English
• Renewable Energy as a Catalyst for Regional Development- in English
• Green growth policy and economic measures as tools for local and regional sustainable development- in English
• Plant protection- in English
• Fishery- in English
MASHAV also carried out many activities abroad in 2018-2019. On the spot courses: 633 people participated in on the spot courses since the beginning of 2018 in MASHAV's capacity building programs related to issues crucial for combatting desertification. These courses were held in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Eurasia and Latin America.
As part of the short term consultancy and professional study visit of Israeli experts, in May 2018 a MASHAV expert visited Cameroon for assistance in installing an irrigation system. More important is the trilateral cooperation with Germany (GIZ) concerning the Mango value chain project. A memorandum of understanding was signed and the project is already on its second phase.