Ankara hosts UN desertification conference

ANKARA

Turkey’s capital is to host delegates from 195 countries for a conference on tackling desertification Monday, the minister of forestry and water affairs said in a statement.

“With COP12, the UN has gathered to keep the struggle against desertification and erosion on the world agenda,” Veysel Eroglu said.

The 12th session of the Conference of the Parties aims to address land degradation due to factors including climate change in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

More than 250 million people around the world are affected by desertification and a further 1.2 billion in 110 countries are threatened.

Eroglu said binding decisions are expected to be made to reduce the land deterioration that endangers water and food security.

Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner of the event, which runs to Oct. 23 at the Ankara ATO Congresium International Convention and Exhibition Center. Details are available at www.unccdcop12.gov.tr.