Workshop on DESERT & DESERTIFICATION

U.N. General Assembly has declared 2006 as International Year of Desert & Desertification. The event has a special significance to raise awareness among the various stakeholders such as policy planners, R&D institutions, Civil Societies, private sector etc. India is a signatory to UNCCD to combat desertification.

In this connection, the State Pollution Control Board, Orissa is organizing a one and half day regional workshop at Bhubaneswar on 7th-8th April, 2006 on _Desert & Desertification_ on behalf of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India and Forest and Environment Department, Government of Orissa. The workshop would cover the participation from States of Orissa, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar .

Tentatively, it is proposed to discuss the following topics in the workshop;

1. Status of Arid Land and Desertification in Eastern Zone

2. Present land use pattern and future scenario

3. Water Resource with emphasis on ground water resource (Present and future scenario)

4. Restoration of Arid Zone

5. Socio-economic scenario

6. Macro & Micro climate

7. Policy, Legislative framework and Strategy

I request you to kindly participate/depute suitable persons from your organization to participate in the workshop.

Further correspondence, in the matter, may be made directly with;

Dr. D. K. Behera,

Senior Environmental Scientist & Coordinator of the Workshop State Pollution Control Board, Orissa Paribesh Bhawan, A/118, Nilakantha Nagar, Unit-VIII Bhubaneswar_751012, Orissa Phone _ (0674)-2564033 (O)

9437171174 (M), Email - dk_behera@yahoo.com