Israel’s Fourth International Conference on Drylands, Deserts and Desertification (DDD) held at the Sde Boker campus of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, drew more than 500 participants from 60 countries. One of its sponsors was the UN, which aims to halt land degradation by 2030.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/InnovativeIsrael/Fighting-desertification-13-Jan-2013.htm#.UPSWhvJAk01.gmail