​In the run-up to Rio+20, UNCCD organized two regional media workshops on land degradation, desertification and drought.

The Asian media workshop took place on 23-25 May 2012 in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China. Competition was open to environmental journalists from across Asia, who have previously reported on land degradation and desertification. Selected journalists were from China, India, Vietnam, Egypt, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and South Korea.  

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 UNCCD, State Forestry Administration in China, Korea Forest Service and Xinhua News Agency and supported by the Forestry department of Inner Mongolia, China.