This workshop is organized under the auspices of the Ankara Initiative, which aims to contribute towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by sharing Turkey's experience and approaches to land management and combating desertification and land degradation with other affected countries. The workshop targets decision makers, meteorologists and non-governmental organizations from the West Asia and the North Africa region involved in the management of environmental problems related to afforestation, dust and sand storms, erosion control, desertification and forestry. It will also provide an opportunity for key players from the region to collectively review and provide input to a draft policy on sand and dust storms that is currently under development. The workshop is co-organized by Turkey's Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion (ÇEM) and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in collaboration with the Turkish State Meteorological Service (TSMS), the General Directorate of Forestry, and the Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).  

dates: 4-7 October 2016  
location: Istanbul, Turkey  
contact: Guleser Avcioglu  
e-mail: gulesera@ormansu.gov.tr  
www: http://www.unccd.int/en/media-center/MediaNews/Pages/highlightdetail.aspx?HighlightID=457
 http://www.unccd.int/Documents/Information%20Note%20_2016_final%20Turkish%20workshop.pdf