The new International Knowledge Management Center on Combating Desertification opened on 5 December during the International Seminar on Desertification Control Technologies and Practices in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia Autonomous Region, China.

The center is the result of cooperation between UNCCD and China under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Ningxia Forestry Grassland Administration as one of the projects to implement the Ordos Declaration of UNCCD COP13. The goal of the MOU is to strengthen international cooperation by sharing technologies and experiences in combating land degradation, desertification and drought, as well as to support capacity development of affected developing countries.

The seminar, which attracted 100 participants from 15 African and Asian countries, featured vegetation cover restoration approaches and forest shelter-belt construction techniques developed in the Ningxia and other affected areas of China to address desertification. Participants agreed that this expertise can become a valuable addition to the UNCCD Knowledge Hub where UNCCD parties share their best practices in sustainable land management and restoration.

New seminars for international participants will be organized by the Knowledge Management Center every year.