14 June 2011, Dakar - General view of participants at the First Africa Drylands Week conference celebrating the International Day to Combat Desertification under the theme Forests Make Drylands Work. The First Africa Drylands Week was held back-to-back with the global observance event on 17 June to mark World Day to Combat Desertification. Over 100 scientists and representatives of government and international and civil society organizations
convened in Dakar, Senegal, from 10-17 June 2011, to develop an integrated approach to address the Region's challenges of desertification and biodiversity loss, and the new climate change threat. This meeting, which was co-organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), works towards a global vision and partnership on the Sustainable Land and Climate Risk Management for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative.