In the run-up to Rio+20, UNCCD organized two regional media workshops on land degradation, desertification and drought. The Africa Region media workshop took place on 29-31 May 2012 in Algiers, Algeria.

Competition was open to French-speaking environmental journalists from across Africa, who have previously reported on land degradation and desertification. Selected journalists came from Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Chad.

The three-day workshop included discussions with land experts on different aspects of land degradation, desertification and drought in the region and a field trip, showcasing both the challenges of the problem and the best practices of combating it. The media workshop was jointly organized by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Algeria.

The journalists adopted recommendations for follow-up action by themselves, the Government of Algeria and the UNCCD secretariat. By the conclusion of the workshop, the journalists had published 13 articles, radio and television emissions, with many more articles published since. These are accessible by clicking here.