Organised by the Ӧz Orman-iş Trade Union, morning sessions focused on the role of Trade Unions in combating desertification and land degradation. Participants expressed their condolences for the families of the victims of the bomb attack in Ankara on 10 October 2015 and joined in solidarity with the Turkish people.

Settar Aslan opened the day and reminded participants that Ӧz Orman-iş is accredited to the UNCCD process. He said that patterns of rural development affect land degradation and desertification.  Policies that improve rural employment and steer it towards sustainability help prevent degradation.  Mahmoud Arslan, the director general of Hak-iş spoke of the role it has played at national and international levels.  Marcos Montoiro, NGO and Civil Society Officer of UNCCD, was glad to have trade unions participating and hoped that today’s discussion would contribute to the operationalization of land degradation neutrality under the UNCCD.

A presentation by Gazi University Academic Lecturer & Assistant Professor, Dr. Erdiniç Yazici explored the relationship between desertification, poverty and famine and showed that the wrong policies can cause land degradation.  Where land rights are not well developed, land degradation is accelerated. Civil society organizations, including trade unions are irreplaceable in solving the problem.

Speakers from Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Eritrea, Morocco, Tanzania and Uganda spoke to show international solidarity and the key role of trade unions in combating land degradation. They said they were ready to join in the fight against desertification and unanımously agreed on a declaration that wıll  be ıncluded ın  the UNCCD COP 12 report.