Desertland, the Conference on Desertification and Land Degradation, will bring together academics, civil society, governments, scientists and other stakeholders to discuss challenges related to desertification and land degradation and develop appropriate solutions. The conference will consider management strategies for areas affected by drought and land degradation. Participants will focus on seven topics: land management and land degradation; water harvesting and water saving techniques in drylands; acidity and drought; soil hydrology; sediment transport and overland flow; GIS applications in wetlands and drylands; and soil and water management. Day one will address ‘Water Security: Responses to local, regional and global challenges.' The second day, which takes place on the World Day to Combat Desertification, will focus on the theme ‘Preventing and Combatting Land Degradation in Drylands'. The University of Ghent and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are organizing the conference.  

dates: 16-17 June 2015  
venue: NH Hotel Gent Belfort, Hoogpoort 63. 9000 Ghent  
location: Ghent, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium  
contact: University of Ghent  
e-mail: info@desertland.eu  
www: http://www.desertland.eu/index.asp