World Day to Combat Desertification, 2015
Theme: “attainment of food security for all through sustainable
food systems.”
Slogan: No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soils
The World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) is observed worldwide on 17 June every year. In
1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared (General Assembly Resolution A/RES/49/115)
June 17 the "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" to promote public awareness of the
issue. Since then, Parties to the Convention, organizations of the United Nations System,
international and non-governmental organizations and other interested stakeholders have marked
this particular day with a series of outreach activities worldwide. For more details visit:
http://www.unccd.int/en/Pages/default.aspx
The World Day to Combat Desertification is a unique occasion to remind everybody that
desertification can be effectively tackled through strengthened community participation and cooperation at all levels.
No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soils
The 2015 observance calls for:
(1) A change in our land use practices through smart agriculture and adaptation to changing climate, especially
in the dry fragile parts of the world where food shortages are becoming more and more severe
(2) Access to technology and land rights for small holder farmers who safeguard the environment and meet
the food needs of millions of households, especially among the poorest households
(3) A balance in the land use for ecology and consumption, drawing on the best practices
(4) More investments in sustainable land practices so that sustainable food systems become the normal
practice and
(5) More effective action on desertification whose effects on security, peace and stability are invisible yet real
for the affected countries due especially to food and water scarcity and environmentally forced migration.
Entries will be judged on the basis of:
a) Innovative Ideas for making India Land Degradation Neutral by 2030
 Originality of Concept
b) Concept along with painting/designs/posters and captions etc.
 Originality of Concept
 Relevance to the Theme of WDCD
 Slogan/Caption
 Other text / data if used
 Layout and Design
 Size of the poster should be 21.5”x15” (or half of the cartridge sheet)
The MoEF&CC reserves the right to make changes as deemed fit in the original concept/design for
development of the final communication product.
Interested individuals, agencies, NGOs, COEs, autonomous institutions etc are invited to send in their
entries through email to the below mentioned address by June 10th 2015 to:
Smt. Naaz Rizvi
Scientist-E
National Museum of Natural History
Tansen Marg, New Delhi-110001
E-mail: [email protected]
LAST DATE: JUNE 10th, 2015