The WOCAT Symposium and WOCAT Network Meeting 2019 that was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia and jointly co-organized with CIAT Ethiopia, WLRC and WOCAT, was a success thanks to all participants, contributors and co-organizers. At the WOCAT Symposium participants shared their knowledge and discussed about up- and out-scaling SLM and achieving LDN. The following day participants visited the Jema watershed north of Addis Ababa to experience successful SLM implementation. At the WOCAT Network Meeting invited WOCAT experts jointly reflected on the achievements and experiences in applying WOCAT in different countries, institutions and projects, and on how the future of WOCAT should look like. More information will be shared soon here on the WOCAT website.

The World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) is observed every year on 17 June to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. Many countries, groups and individuals celebrate and observe WDCD by organizing a variety of outreach activities and awareness raising events.

The meeting was hosted by the General Directorate of the Combatting Desertification and Erosion of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey. This third and final global meeting gave the opportunity to share and discuss experiences and results amongst the 15 participating countries.

UGACAT  is   part of a success story and product of  a partnership  of institutions working towards  scaling SLM  at multi scales (farm, landscapes  and national) under IFAD funding.

UGACAT  as  a  coalition hosts the SLM database linked to the  National SLM Database officially hosted by the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) www.ugacat.slm.go.ug and  to the global  network and  database of WOCAT.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the popular perception of rangelands and their management is that these vast areas have major problems without solutions: the common narrative focuses on overgrazing, herds of undernourished livestock, erosion and desertification, drought, famine, and conflict. However, evidence compiled and analysed in this book show that such a view of rangelands – as being unproductive and mismanaged systems – does not reflect reality. It needs reconsideration and revision. The overall goal of the guidelines is to demonstrate – through a unique set of convincing case studies and their analysis as well as the development of guiding principles – the value and potential of investment in rangelands.

Striving for a land degradation neutral world requires the active participation of all relevant stakeholders and groups including youth and women as well as the private sector. WOCAT wishes you a happy World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2019! Take action and spread the word about SLM and its impacts to support relevant stakeholders to adopt and promote good land use practices around the world!