Martínez Valderrama, Jaime (Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio (IMEM), University of Alicante)

This course will clarify conceptual misconceptions and topics linked to desertification, one of the most important global problems, and will present initiatives to address it.

Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th & Friday 16th 

Ten-hour course (8 lectures, one workshop, one round table) spread over three mornings. The importance of drylands, desertification and various initiatives to tackle it will be discussed. Artificial intelligence, LDN, the Spanish national action programme and xxx will be discussed. Special attention will be given to the issue of water. There will be academic speakers (three professors, one scientist from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), two postdoctoral researchers) and representatives of the central administration (Secretary General for the Environment, Ministry for Ecological Transition), an environmental foundation and an NGO.

The course is conceived as an opportunity to transfer knowledge from science and public institutions to the general public and is therefore of an informative nature. Some technical aspects will be covered, but the aim is that anyone can understand the content of the course.

Some of the conferences are focused on ecological restoration and how to involve local populations. In general, the aim is to present desertification from the point of view of the solutions that are being provided.

Spanish