Other meetings & events

The Thematic Scientific Conference of the International Geographic Union (IGU) “Practical Geography and XXI Century Challenges” dedicated to the Centennial of the Institute of Geography of Russian Academy of Sciences will take place on 4-6 June 2018 in Moscow, Russian Federation. The conference will respond to the recommendations of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) (decision 19/COP.12) which guides the provision of scientific advice to the decision-making process. Over the past few decades, the Institute of Geography has remainedone of the world-renowned scientific centres working on the problems of desertification, land degradation and drought. Following this tradition, this IGU Thematic Conference will pay special  attention to  land related issues, including the development of the modern concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and the implementation of the new UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework. It is expected that the conference will gather about 1000 scientists, experts, practitioners and the international organizations from around the world. The outcomes of the conference will contribute to the priority areas of the UNCCD Committee on Science and Technology as well as the Science-Policy Interface.  The occasion of the conference provides an opportunity to place sustainable land management (SLM), land tenure, LDN, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a regional and global context, providing the means to enhance or adapted underlying theoretical paradigms, encourage the radical renewal of research methods and the validity of environmental change predictions, as well as to strengthen the integration between social and environmental branches of geography. Topics to be addressed by the papers and sessions at the conference will cover a broad spectrum of research questions, but with a specific emphasis on land-based issues: Sustainable land management and the pursuit of land degradation neutrality: Loop of desertification, land degradation and drought Sustainable land management practices: experiences and evaluation Land use and land cover change: challenges of globalization Climate – vegetation interaction under present and future climate conditions Dangerous geomorphologic processes: regional and global trends, human impact, current methods of study assessment and forecast Monitoring atmospheric composition and environmental pollution Global environmental changes and people in changing environment Geopolitical dimension of population: the demographic revolution as challenge of XXI Century Geographical challenges in extreme environments of recent and past epochs Historical geography and climate change: new directions Local governance for local development in the XXI Century: opportunities and limitations Evolution of the world economy under globalization and regionalization processes Land-based solutions in regional context: Northern Eurasia in a telecoupled world: agricultural potential and ecosystem tradeoffs Migration, mobility and climate change: an overview with a specific focus on Russia and neighboring countries From water to dust: environmental problems in Central Asia China Belt and Road Initiative and Eurasia: risks and challenges Under the auspices of the UNCCD, the IGU Thematic Conference will serve as one of the important mechanisms for providing expert and scientific support for the implementation of the UNCCD strategic goals and related Sustainable Development Goals. The Conference will also provide an opportunity to strengthen the network of the UNCCD national scientific and technical correspondents for the dissemination of knowledge and national experience in combating desertification, land degradation and drought. The IGU Organizing Committee invites UNCCD to take an active part in the conference and present the UNCCD priorities regarding land degradation neutrality, sustainable land management and land-based climate change adaptation. Additional information about the event can be found at the IGU Thematic Conference website https://100igras.ru/en/index.php, available in Russian, English and French. The deadline for abstract submission and registration is 01 March 2018! For any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact: Dr. German Kust, the UNCCD CST Vice-chair: e-mail kust@igras.ru, copy to gkust@yandex.com Mr. Alexander Sebentsov, PhD, Scientific Secretary of the IGU Conference: igras100@igras.ru

8 – 12 May 2018, Konya, Türkiye The expressions, green and capital, come up as a range of values befitting human, civilization, social life and esthetic attitude and warning humanity. Konya Metropolitan Municipality wishes to discuss deep technical and social values including a chain of meanings, then examine these as common values of humanity on a platform to be constituted by participants and bring people of science and experience together on a common ground to discuss upon what these values may mean by moving them forward. In the province of Konya, the cities, which used to be or still are the capitals, will gather together in order to discuss the common values of humanity. Konya has a special place as a center in respect of reflecting the above-mentioned characteristics and senses. In addition to the changes and aesthetic developments it prove it happen within international realms, Konya actually had already been the capital city of the Anatolian Seljuk State. Today, with its population over two million people,  historical and cultural values, aesthetic breakthrough, orderly urbanization, robust transportation facilities, environmental investments, green spaces available, agricultural and industrial innovations, as well as its location, mission and especially peace, Konya is determined to maintain all these values as a livable world metropolitan city. In this context, Konya Metropolitan Municipality invite large and small green cities from all over the world, who were capitals throughout history or are capitals now and who had proven themselves with their green-fields, esthetic values and social structure, to this congress. During the 5-day congress on the first day opening and protocol speeches, on the second, third and fourth days academical discussions and last day evaluations and a Konya tour will take place. For article, poster and participation applications please visit https://yesilbaskentler.com/ 

Under the theme "Sahel: cap vers une agriculture familiale, Comment assurer une valorisation des potentiels locaux?, Quelles coalitions d'acteurs pour bâtir avec les communautés un avenir durable?" the NGO SOS Sahel will organize the second edition of the Africa Days in Dakar, Senegal on 4-5 May 2018. The forum will focus on the small-scale agriculture as a way to bring value to the potential of the local communities. A market place and field visit will also portray the actions on the ground aiming at protecting the environment while ensuring the sustainable development of the populations dependent on agriculture. More information (in French): Programme  Terms of Reference Save the date

The “Nexus” approach is the one that focuses on overlaps across sectors while respecting sectoral expertise in order to make better plans by understanding interactions (Stockholm Environment Institute, 2017). iThis will be the second Nexus Conference that The Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has organized. The conference will facilitate space for the development of collaborative work and focus on the: science-policy interface partnerships solutions review of Sustainable Development Goal commitments (2018 and for the Heads of State review in 2019) sharing of tools, indicators and methodologies; and the identification of gaps It will build on recognizing and respecting the work that sector experts are engaged with while also addressing some key challenges that will require a Nexus approach these include: agriculture will have to produce 30-50 per cent more food by 2030 primary energy needs will increase by 40 per cent by 2030 demand for water will exceed global availability by 40 per cent in 2030 surge of 200 million climate change refugees will reverse global healthcare progress by 2050