The United Nations' World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is
annually observed on June 17 to highlight the urgent need to curb the
desertification process. It also aims to strengthen the visibility of
the drylands issue on the international environmental agenda.
Individuals and organizations in various countries, such as
Australia, Algeria, Canada, China, Ghana, and the United States, have
participated in the day in recent years. Many events focus on
educational activities to help combat problems relating to
desertification and drought.
Promotional activities may include the distribution of awareness
raising materials, such as calendars, fact sheets, posters and
postcards, to educational institutions and the general public. The day
may also feature educational case studies, forums or discussions on
drought and desertification, its implications on society and ways to
minimize the problem.
However, the effort to fight against desertification and drought
does not occur only on this day. Many countries have been making a
progressive effort in proactively addressing the issue and looking for
solutions. For example, the Algerian Government resorted to a French
research and engineering firm, in view of elaborating a national plan
to protect the agricultural lands and to fight desertification. Pilot
projects in Lebanon resulted in villagers producing za’atar and other
traditional delicacies to tackle the agricultural decline caused by
years of drought and desert expansion.