Commemorating over 20 years of implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the UNCCD Secretariat along with the Ministry of Environment in Japan and Tottori University have organized an international symposium, under the theme 'Combating Desertification: Towards Land Degradation Neutrality'. In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the symposium reflects past efforts in combating desertification in order to support next steps. Speakers will include Yoshihiro Seki, State Minister of the Environment, Japan; Monique Barbut, the UNCCD Executive Secretary; Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Director, IR3S, University of Tokyo. Senior Visiting Professor, UNU-IAS; Uriel Safriel, Professor Emeritus, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and Majig Tungalag, Director, Department of Forest Policy and Coordination, Ministry of Environment, Green Development and Tourism, Mongolia.  

date: 7 February 2017  
venue: UN University  
location: Tokyo, Japan  
www: http://www2.unccd.int/news-events/tokyo-international-symposium-combating-desertification-towards-land-degradation
 http://www.svc-net.jp/201727/