The Rio Conventions Pavilion at UNCCD COP-12: Events for Tuesday 13 October 2015

Organised by the Ӧz Orman-iş Trade Union, morning sessions focused on the role of Trade Unions in combating desertification and land degradation. Participants expressed their condolences for the families of the victims of the bomb attack in Ankara on 10 October 2015 and joined in solidarity with the Turkish people.

Settar Aslan opened the day and reminded participants that Ӧz Orman-iş is accredited to the UNCCD process. He said that patterns of rural development affect land degradation and desertification.  Policies that improve rural employment and steer it towards sustainability help prevent degradation.  Mahmoud Arslan, the director general of Hak-iş spoke of the role it has played at national and international levels.  Marcos Montoiro, NGO and Civil Society Officer of UNCCD, was glad to have trade unions participating and hoped that today’s discussion would contribute to the operationalization of land degradation neutrality under the UNCCD.

A presentation by Gazi University Academic Lecturer & Assistant Professor, Dr. Erdiniç Yazici explored the relationship between desertification, poverty and famine and showed that the wrong policies can cause land degradation.  Where land rights are not well developed, land degradation is accelerated. Civil society organizations, including trade unions are irreplaceable in solving the problem.

Speakers from Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Eritrea, Morocco, Tanzania and Uganda spoke to show international solidarity and the key role of trade unions in combating land degradation. They said they were ready to join in the fight against desertification and unanımously agreed on a declaration that wıll  be ıncluded ın  the UNCCD COP 12 report. 

During the afternoon, the Pavilion hosted an interactive dialogue among youth delegates from Turkey.  Led by Professor Emre Aydin of Ankara University, the wide ranging discussion touched on the status and impact of education; ways to engage the UNCCD process over the next two years and how to prepare for careers in sustainable land management.  Discussions will continue informally over the next days.

The Global Mechanism (GM) hosted an evening reception under the theme: “From Pilots to Scale – Supporting Countries to Translate the Convention into Action.”  Markus Repnik, the new Managing Director (MD) of the GM and his team showed that the Global Mechanism is on the move to support action for land degradation neutrality (LDN).  Work to mobilise the private sector for a LDN Fund were presented, along with projects that support climate resilient development.  The GM is ready to support countries that choose to establish LDN targets. The new website, launched today, was also celebrated under the stars.