Report of Global Observance Event
On Turkey WDCD stately observance, group photo speakers and participations
World Day to Combat Desertification
17 June 2015 I Ankara, Turkey
Summary Highlights of the Event
The World Day to Combat Desertification took place in Congresium Ankara ATO Congresium
International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Ankara, Turkey, with the participation of the
governmental / non-governmental organizations and public cooperation. High-level speakers
drew the attention to national and international projects, more effective actions about
combating desertification and erosion, smart agricultural practices, food security and
sustainable food systems.
Prof. Dr. Mr. Lutfi Akca, Ministry of Forestry
and Water Affairs Undersecretary, Turkey,
stressed the combating desertification and
erosion projects success in Turkey. The 12th
session of the Conference of the Parties to the
United
Nations
Conventions
Combat
Desertification (UNCCD COP12) will take
place 12- 23 October 2015, Ankara, Turkey
with the participation of 195 state parties and
around 8000 attenders. The undersecretary
explained importance of desertification and
invite related institutions in the world to take
brave steps for combating desertification and
erosion as well. He highlighted the importance of forest and water with the phrase “Forest and
water is life” and mentioned that in the last decade (2008-2015), Turkey increased its forests
both in quality, quantity and 2.8billion trees planted.
Mr. Ismail Uzmez, General Director of
Forestry, Turkey, remarked that the protection
of
land
is
responsibility;
not
it
only
is
these
whole
institutions
humanities
responsibility thereby insurance of agriculture
is soil. He drew attention to land degradation
and sustainable land management solutions.
General
Director
said;
for
early
1980’,
combating desertification and reversing land
degradation has played crucial role in Turkey
but without raising environmental awareness of
the public farmers and forest villagers etc.,
nothing could be done.
Mr. Omer Ozdemır, Deputy Director of General
Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, Turkey,
identified the water affairs role of combating
desertification and erosion. He highlighted
positive influence of Improving of Water
Sources Projects, Increasing Water Usage
Efficiency
Projects,
Overflow,
Increasing
Storage Capacity and Flood Control Project on
combating desertification and erosion and
global
climate
change.
Moreover,
he
mentioned that in the 2010-2014 strategic plan,
all studies supported combating desertification
and erosion and adaptation of climate change
solutions. Turkey started the project “1000
Ponds in 1000 Days” within this framework to
mitigate the negative effect of drought.
Mr. Ismail Belen, Deputy General Director of
Combating
Desertification
and
Erosion,
Turkey, remarked that they glad to involve
amazing projects and being host for COP12
for 2015. In this year, Turkey attended the
United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF11)
decided the forest management plan until
2030 in May. Turkey will be hosted UNCCD
COP12 and one of the five coordinator
countries for Forest Europe. In addition,
Turkey will host The Group of Twenty
(G20) and The Business 20 (B20) summits
20-21 November 2015as well. In December
2015, The Minister of Republic of Turkey
Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs will
represent the country as head of UNCCD COP12 in the 21st United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP21). In short, he
noted that Turkey has the all best technology and strategy to combat desertification and
erosion and important role not only in Middle East, North Africa, Balkan or Turkic Countries
and also in the world. His remarkable speech was ended with “Turkey will not be desert” and
warranted with ongoing projects.
All guests were welcomed by traditional dance of Seymen Club of Ankara and Film Screening.
The following activity was ravishing sand art. Veysel Celikdemir presented the art with amazing
scenario, which provided information about not only how cultural and natural richness Turkey
has, and also how land degradation effect community. During the event, nongovernmental
organizations, artist of sand art and volunteer tree planter were awarded by the high-level
speakers. The closing activities were kids drum show and photograph exhibition, which is
called “Desertification is a Silent Disaster of the World”.
The event covered nationally and globally on several media platforms.
The observance stream is available now!
Reported by Fatma Ulku KARATAS