Conferences and debates
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Restoring land, creating opportunities
June 17, 2025From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
MADRID
Casa Árabe Auditorium (at Calle Alcalá, 62).
From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Prior registration required.
On the occasion of the Day Against Desertification and Drought, held on June 17, the Biodiversity Foundation of Spain’s Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, with the cooperation of Casa África, has organized this day of events at the Casa Árabe headquarters in Madrid. Sign up here now to attend.
The event will include discussion of this problem, creating a space for analysis on possible solutions to desertification and drought with a focus on youth. The conference seeks to share, debate and reflect on the importance of training and raising awareness on drought and desertification based on different fields, from the perspective of cooperation between Spain and Africa. The goal is to create a space for increasing awareness and public debate on the problems caused by desertification and drought, focusing on how to publicize, educate and raise awareness on the subject.
In order to attend the event, you must register by completing this form.
The Day Against Desertification and Drought
Officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, the Day Against Desertification and Drought, held every June 17, provides a unique opportunity to highlight practical solutions to fight desertification, land degradation and drought. Every year, a different country hosts the global celebrations.
The slogan in 2025 is “Restore land and unlock opportunities,” reflecting the many benefits associated with land restoration.
Schedule
In order to attend the event, you must register by completing this form.
The Day Against Desertification and Drought
Officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, the Day Against Desertification and Drought, held every June 17, provides a unique opportunity to highlight practical solutions to fight desertification, land degradation and drought. Every year, a different country hosts the global celebrations.
The slogan in 2025 is “Restore land and unlock opportunities,” reflecting the many benefits associated with land restoration.
Schedule
The Day Against Desertification and Drought, 2025: Restoring land, creating opportunities
10:30 a.m. – Welcoming of attendees
11:00 a.m. – Running the event: Gloria Pallarés.
A journalist specializing in development, the environment and global health.
Welcome speech.
• Miguel Moro Aguilar, the Director General of Casa Árabe.
• Juan Jaime Martínez, head of Casa África’s Culture and Education Department.
• Félix Romero, Director of the Biodiversity Foundation.
11:15 a.m. – Presentation of an informative guide on “Desertification and Drought”
Daniel Fernández Orgaz, technician at the Spain’s General Subdirectorate of Forestry Policy and the Fight Against Desertification (MITECO).
11:30 a.m. – Round table discussion The importance of education and awareness to address drought and desertification
Moderated by Clara Tudanca Gil, a technician at Spain’s General Subdirectorate of Forestry Policy and the Fight Against Desertification (MITECO).
• Jaime Martínez Valderrama, EEZA-CSIC, coordinator of the Atlas of Desertification in Spain project
• Sara Villodre. Spain Youth Council
• Belén Pineda. European Youth Parliament España.
• Juan Jaime Martínez, head of the Culture and Education Area at Casa África, in charge of the educational project “Teaching Africa”
12:15 p.m. – Round table discussion: Restoring land, creating opportunities
Moderated by Cristina González-Onandia, coordinator of the Research and Climate Change Area of the Biodiversity Foundation
• Rafael Navarro, University of Cordoba. Project Study of the spatio-temporal dynamics of desertification in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula (DESFUTUR).
• Jaime Ribalaygua, Foundation for Climate Research. Project for strengthening ecological restoration and green infrastructure for the adaptation of forest species to climate change (FORESTECCO).
• Chiedza Lucia Muchopa, University of Namibia.
• Sakhoudia Thiam, Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall.
1:00 p.m. – Conclusions. Gloria Pallarés
1:15 p.m. – Farewell and closing event
10:30 a.m. – Welcoming of attendees
11:00 a.m. – Running the event: Gloria Pallarés.
A journalist specializing in development, the environment and global health.
Welcome speech.
• Miguel Moro Aguilar, the Director General of Casa Árabe.
• Juan Jaime Martínez, head of Casa África’s Culture and Education Department.
• Félix Romero, Director of the Biodiversity Foundation.
11:15 a.m. – Presentation of an informative guide on “Desertification and Drought”
Daniel Fernández Orgaz, technician at the Spain’s General Subdirectorate of Forestry Policy and the Fight Against Desertification (MITECO).
11:30 a.m. – Round table discussion The importance of education and awareness to address drought and desertification
Moderated by Clara Tudanca Gil, a technician at Spain’s General Subdirectorate of Forestry Policy and the Fight Against Desertification (MITECO).
• Jaime Martínez Valderrama, EEZA-CSIC, coordinator of the Atlas of Desertification in Spain project
• Sara Villodre. Spain Youth Council
• Belén Pineda. European Youth Parliament España.
• Juan Jaime Martínez, head of the Culture and Education Area at Casa África, in charge of the educational project “Teaching Africa”
12:15 p.m. – Round table discussion: Restoring land, creating opportunities
Moderated by Cristina González-Onandia, coordinator of the Research and Climate Change Area of the Biodiversity Foundation
• Rafael Navarro, University of Cordoba. Project Study of the spatio-temporal dynamics of desertification in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula (DESFUTUR).
• Jaime Ribalaygua, Foundation for Climate Research. Project for strengthening ecological restoration and green infrastructure for the adaptation of forest species to climate change (FORESTECCO).
• Chiedza Lucia Muchopa, University of Namibia.
• Sakhoudia Thiam, Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall.
1:00 p.m. – Conclusions. Gloria Pallarés
1:15 p.m. – Farewell and closing event