Organized annually by Turkey's General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, with support from the Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency, this year's training workshop will bring together policy makers and experts from Central Asia and the Balkans that are involved in the management of environmental problems related to desertification, land degradation, afforestation, erosion control and forestry. The training course will address diverse technical issues, including: the causes of desertification and land degradation; seed and seedling production; afforestation; erosion control; and participatory approaches. It will also aim to enhance collaboration and the exchange of experiences among the countries of the region. The training workshop is organized under the auspices of the Ankara Initiative, which aims to strengthen implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for the period of 2016 to 2019. The Initiative supports the global sustainable development agenda and seeks to leverage the lessons learned from Turkey's past experience and approaches to land management.  

dates: 23-27 August 2016  
location: Konya, Nigde, Turkey  
contact: Sebahattin Acikgoz  
e-mail: sacikgoz@ormansu.gov.tr  
www: http://www.unccd.int/en/media-center/MediaNews/Pages/highlightdetail.aspx?HighlightID=458