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International Workshop on 'Drought Management and Desertification Control' at Mashhad, Iran, 22-24 May 2017

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Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. This process has already affected one sixth of the world's population, 70% of all drylands of ~3.6 billion hectares, and one quarter of the total land area of the world. The most obvious impact of desertification, in addition to widespread poverty, is the degradation of 3.3 billion hectares of the total area of rangeland, constituting 73% of the rangeland with a low potential for human and animal carrying capacity; decline in soil fertility and soil structure on about 47% of the dryland areas constituting marginal rain fed cropland; and the degradation of irrigated cropland, amounting to 30% of the dryland areas with a high population density and agricultural potential. The priority in combating desertification involves implementing the preventive measures for lands that have still not degraded, or are only slightly degraded. However, the severely degraded areas also need to be kept in focus. In combating desertification and drought, the participation of local communities, rural agencies,  national governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international and regional organisations is essential.

With the above in view, the Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) announces the organisation of an International Workshop on ‘Drought Management and Desertification Control’ at Mashhad, Iran during 22–24 May 2017 jointly with the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and invites nominations from policy makers, academia, researchers and agricultural practitioners having interest in control and management of desertification.

The following may please be noted: 

(a)     The last date for submission of applications is Monday,17th April 2017. Only limited seats are available for participation in this event. Since a large number of applications are expected, early response is advisable to avoid disappointment.

(b)     Free local hospitality, including accommodation and meals, will be provided by the local organisers to all foreign participants from from 21st  May 2017 (Noon) to 25th  May 2017 (Noon) i.e. for 4 nights commencing from one day before the Workshop and for an additional day after its conclusion. The participants should arrange their flight schedules accordingly, otherwise  they will have to make their own arrangement of stay beyond these days.

        Transport will also be provided to the participants free of any cost for their airport transfer and local travel in connection with the Workshop.

(c)      Application for participation in the International Workshop may please be made only to the NAM S&T Centre (E-mail: namstcentre@gmail.com) in the Nomination Form attached with the Announcement, except by those from Iran.

The Iranian applicants, however, should submit their Nomination Forms only to the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.

(d)     It is mandatory for all participants to make a presentation during the Workshop. Accordingly, an extended abstract (1-2 pages, in MS Word) of the material proposed to be presented during the event must be attached with the Nomination Form, without which the application shall be deemed invalid.

(e)     The selection for attending the Workshop will be made strictly on the merit of the abstract of the paper to be presented by the applicants during the Workshop, their academic background and professional experience, and interest of their parent organisation in the subject area.

(f)      For applications received from the member countries of the NAM S&T Centre, which are regularly paying their annual subscription: The NAM S&T Centre will provide return international airfare to Iran by Excursion Class by Shortest Route to only one official nominee of each country, provided the application is routed through the Focal Point of the NAM S&T Centre in the applicant’s country.

        In this connection, the Focal Points may please note that the NAM S&T Centre will consider only one official nomination from a member country for full financial support by the Centre, subject to the availability of seats and the applicant fulfilling all the above stated criteria. Any additional nominations from the Focal Points may also be considered subject to the availability of seats, but such applicants will have to arrange for their international fare and will also be required to pay in advance a Processing Fee of US$400 to the NAM S&T Centre.

(g)     For applications received from the member countries of the NAM S&T Centre defaulting on the payment of their annual dues: Selected nominees of the Focal Points from those of the member countries that are overdue on the payment of their annual subscription and any other selected applicants will make their own arrangement for international travel and will also be required to pay in advance a Processing Fee of US$400 to the NAM S&T Centre.

(h)     For nominations received from the S&T-Industry Network Members of the NAM S&T Centre: The NAM S&T – Industry Network entitles each Network member, which has no outstanding dues against its membership subscription, to get invitation for two nominees each year with full finances paid by the Centre for participation in appropriate activities organised by the Centre. Accordingly, if a Network member has not yet fully availed of this privilege and desires to make a nomination for attending this Workshop, the NAM S&T Centre will provide return international airfare to Iran by Excursion Class by Shortest Route to such official nominee of the Network member, if selected.

        Any additional nominee(s) of the paying S&T-Industry Network Members, as well as the nominees of those Network Members, which are overdue on the payment of their annual network membership subscription, if selected, will make their own arrangement for international travel and will also be required to pay in advance a Processing Fee of US$400 to the NAM S&T Centre. 

(i)       For applicants from the non-member countries and any other applicants in their individual capacity from countries other than Iran: They may send the completed Nomination Form directly to the NAM S&T Centre. They will be required to pay a Processing Fee of US$400 to the NAM S&T Centre immediately after selection and will also make their own arrangement for international travel.

(j)      Other details are available in the attached Announcement.

(k)     Information on the member countries and S&T-Industry Network members of the NAM S&T Centre and names/addresses of the Focal Points may be seen on the Centre’s website www.namstct.org.

(l)       English will be the official language of the Workshop.

All correspondence may please be made by email. All documents should be prepared in MS Word Format (or electronically scanned in case of the passport) and sent as attachments to the email. Kindly DO NOT send us fax messages or hard copies to save paper and energy.

[ Announcemnt ] [ Nomination Form ]

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