February 2013: The slogan for the 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification, which is celebrated annually on 17 June, will be “Don’t let our future dry up.” Events to mark the Day will focus on themes related to drought and water scarcity.

The theme was selected to coordinate with the 2013 International Year of Water Cooperation. Recognition of the Day is organized by the Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The UNCCD reports that the goal of the 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification will be to “create awareness about the risks of drought and water scarcity in the drylands and beyond,” and related activities will seek to call attention to the importance of sustaining healthy soils as part of the post Rio+20 agenda and the post-2015 development agenda.

Activities to mark the Day will begin during the High-level Meeting on National Drought Policies, which will convene from 11-15 March 2013, in Geneva, Switzerland. This event is being organized by the UNCCD, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), among others. [UNCCD information about 2013 World Day to Combat Desertification] [International Year of Water Cooperation]