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         13 May 2004
PR/E16/04
 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE WILL HIGHLIGHT INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND DESERTS

Dryland ecosystems are characterized by low volume and extreme variability of rainfall. Encompassing hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, they contain some of the world's most fragile ecosystems. Drylands cover about 41% of the earth's land surface and are home to more than 2 billion people, many of who confront daunting challenges in maintaining their well-being in the face of limited water and natural resources. United Nations University (UNU) has long undertaken research and capacity building focused on drylands.

On 19 May 2004, UNU, the Arid Land Research Center of Tottori University and the Japanese Association for Arid Land Studies will co-organize an international conference on "Living with Desert" at UN House in Tokyo. The aim of this conference is to review global research on drylands, integrate key drylands and desertification issues, and summarize successful approaches for managing drylands. Leading drylands experts will discuss approaches that can lead to people living in harmony with deserts.

The keynote lecturers will include Prof. Iwao Kobori (Senior Programme Advisor, UNU), Dr. Adel El-Beltagy (Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas) and Dr. Andras Szollosi-Nagy (Deputy Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO). Experts from Canada, China, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands and Tunisia will also present their research. Presentations and panel discussion will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into Japanese.

Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. For your information, a copy of the conference provisional programme is attached.

  • Conference website: http://www.inweh.unu.edu/inweh/drylands/Conference2004.htm

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