INTERNATIONAL DRYLA ND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (IDDC)


Ninth International Conference on Dryland Development:
Sustainable Development in the Drylands - Meeting the Challenge of Global Climate Change

Sponsored by
ALRC (Tottori University), ARC-Egypt, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, CAS, DRI, FAO (tbc),
ICARDA, ICRISAT, JICA, JIRCAS, UNCCD (tbc), UNESCO (tbc) & UNU

7-10 November 2008, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt
The International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC), which is an autonomous nongovernmental nonprofit organization established in 1987 by the individuals and institutions interested in sustainable development of dry areas, is promoting all aspects of dryland studies by fostering cooperation, collaboration and networking between various international, regional and national organizations. One of the important modus operandi of the networking of IDDC has been to hold a major scientific conference every three years to provide opportunity to participants from around the world to exchange research results and experiences in dryland development and combating desertification. In pursuance of this objective the IDDC has organized in the past eight international conferences.

The Ninth International Conference on Dryland Development (ICDD) titled "Sustainable Development in the Drylands - Meeting the Challenge of Global Climate Change" will be held on 7-10 November 2008 in Alexandria, Egypt. It will be organized under the auspices of the International Dryland Development Commission (IDDC), and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and sponsored by the Arid Land Research Center (ALRC) of Tottori University, Japan; the Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Egypt; the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China; the Desert Research Institute (DRI), Nevada, USA; the FAO of the United Nations; ICARDA; ICRISAT; Japanese Agency for International Cooperation (JAICA); Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS); UNESCO; UNCCD; UNU and other national and international organizations.

Proposed Topics of Interest
There is increasing evidence that the ecological impact of the global climate change is being witnessed much faster than earlier anticipated. Dry areas of the world have highly fragile ecosystem, which is highly vulnerable to the anticipated environmental changes. For sustainable development of the drylands and other dry areas, it is important that the resilience of these ecosystems to cope with the challenges of global climate change is enhanced. The Conference will provide an opportunity to examine the probable impact of global climate change on the natural resources and agricultural productivity of the dry area ecosystems and exchange information and possible ways to enhance the resilience of these systems through adaptation and mitigation strategies. It will also identify many challenges faced by the research community in responding to the problems of arresting desertification, devising ways to sustainably using oases by the communities that live there, and reducing the pace of global climate change through improved management of natural resources in the dry areas.

Subjects to be addressed include the following:
1-
Climatic change in dry areas.
2-
Impact of global climate change on the natural resources of land, water and biodiversity in the dry areas.
3-
Enhancing resilience of agriculture in dry areas through management of water and land resources.
4-
Biodiversity conservation and utilization.
5-
Range management and forage and livestock production.
6-
Stress physiology: drought, heat, cold and salinity.
7-
Improvement of stress resistance in dry area crops, shrubs and tree species through conventional breeding and application of biotechnology.
8-
Reducing greenhouse gas emission through harnessing renewable energy in the dry areas.
9-
Blending indigenous/traditional knowledge and heritage with modern science in the sustainable development of oases.
10-
Enhancing livelihood of desert communities and socioeconomic studies.

Papers
Papers are invited covering scientific and developmental aspects within the framework of the topics suggested above. They should build on existing knowledge and have projections for future direction. They could be presented orally or as posters, as decided by the International Scientific Committee.

Persons planning to present papers at the Conference should submit a one page, single spaced abstract of 200-300 words by 30 June 2008. Completed manuscript must be submitted by 31 August 2008. Papers must be formatted as per the guidelines provided by the International Scientific Committee (Appendix). The Conference language will be English. One copy of the proceedings volume containing the papers presented at the Conference will be provided to registered participants.

Registration
The registration fee is US$ 300 (US $ 150 for students) for those registering by 31 July 2008. Fee for registration later than 31 July 2008 will be US $ 400 (US $200 for student). The registration fee covers local transportation in Alexandria between the place of residence and the Conference hall and mid-conference scientific tour in Egypt, workshop publications including the proceedings and, coffee/tea/snacks during the forenoon and afternoon breaks and lunch for 4 days (7-10 November).

The mid-conference scientific tour will include a visit to (a) various Egyptian institutions engaged in research on dryland agriculture, and (b) desert development activities in the western deserts in Egypt.

Post-Conference Excursion
The participants would also have the option of joining a two-day post-conference scientific excursion, starting 11 November 2008, to Syria, where they will be able to see the management of oases, indigenous techniques of sustainable water management, range management and conservation of dry land biodiversity, and research on abiotic stress resistance in dryland field crops through conventional plant breeding and application of biotechnology being done by ICARDA. The costs will have to be borne by the participants.

 Conference Deadlines
Arrival of abstracts 30 June 2008
Authors notified of acceptance of papers 31 July 2008
Early registration deadline 31 July 2008
Completed manuscripts to be submitted to the organizers 31 August 2008

If you are considering attending the Conference, please complete the attached form (Letter of Intent) and return it to the address indicated. This will ensure that you receive additional information and will assist the planning. We will eventually need your registration form and the abstract as per the details given below.

Entry visa
All foreign participants must have a valid passport and visa. Please contact the Egyptian Embassy or consulate in your home country two months prior to conference for information on visa requirements.


International Scientific Committee
Chairman: Prof. Dr Adel El-Beltagy, Chair of IDDC, Chair of Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), and Chair of Agricultural Research and Development Council of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Government of Egypt
Members: Dr Ismail Serageldin, Director, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt

Prof. Iwao Kobori, Senior Program Advisor, United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan

Dr Zafar Adeel, Director, United Nations University, International Network on Water, Environment and Health, Hamilton, Canada

Prof. Dr R.G. Wyn Jones, Associate Director, Center for Arid Zone Studies, University College of North Wales, UK, Secretary-General, IDDC

Prof. Dr Atsushi Tsunekawa, Director of Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Japan

Prof. Dr Wang Tao, Director General, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Lanzhou, China

Dr S. Wells, Director, Desert Research Institute, Nevada, USA

Dr Mahmoud Solh, Director General, ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria

Dr Shivaji Pandey, Director Production and Protection Division, FAO, Rome (tbc)

Prof. Dr Mohan Saxena, Senior Advisor to the Director General, ICARDA, Executive Secretary, ICDD

Local Organizing Committee
Chairman: Prof. Dr Ayman Abou Hadid, President of Agriculture Research Center, MoALR, Egypt
Members: Prof. Dr. Magdy Madkour, Arid Lands Agricultural Research Institute (ALRI), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Ms. Hannan Abdel Rezak, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt

Dr. Adel Abu Naga, Agricultural Research and Development Council, MoALR, Egypt

Dr Fawzi Karajeh, Nile Valley & Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Program



                                                            Letter of Intent
           ____________________________________________________________________________


Full Name:……………………………………………………...................................Title: Dr/Prof/Mr/Ms:........
                        (First name)               (Middle name)               (Surname)

Nationality:……………………………………………………………………………................................….......

Address:………………………………………………………………………………….......................................

…………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................

…………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................

Telephone (business):…………………………………………………………………….....................................

Fax (business):…………………………………………………………………………........................................

E-Mail:…………………………………………………………………………………….......................................

Please mark your choice in the box by X

1.
 Participate in the Conference with no paper or poster presentation [   ]
2.
 Present a poster under the title:............................................................. [   ]
3.
 Present a paper under the title:……………………………………................

........................................................................................................... 		[   ]
4.
 Participate in the post-conference excursion [   ]


…………………..............................…..
…………………..............................…..
Name
Signature and Date
   
 

Please return this letter of intent electronically to:
Dr. Mohan C. Saxena, Executive Secretary, IDDC
E-mail: M.Saxena@cgiar.org

And a hard copy to:
Prof. Dr. Adel El-Beltagy, Chair of IDDC
Agricultural Research Center, ARC Building, Minister's Office (2)
9, El-Gama'a Street, Giza, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +202-35681581
E-mail: elbeltagy@optomatica.com or aghazi100@yahoo.com
 

Click here for Registration form (PDF)

Click here for Abstract form (PDF)

Click here for Appendix (PDF)