Sassari 18 Giugno 2015 Aula Barbieri – Department of Agricultural Science

NRD-UNISS presents the World Day to Combat Desertification – 2015

“Experiences of Integrated Water Management

to Combat Desertification”

Sassari 18th June 2015, 11.30am – 6pm Aula Barbieri

Department of Agricultural Science – University of Sassari Viale Italia 39, 07100, Sassari

The aim of this event is to celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) which is observed worldwide on 17th June every year. The goal of this day of observance is to reach the general public and decision makers with the message that eradicating hunger and poverty is closely related to the achievement of Land-Degradation Neutrality. The event will promote the exchange of scientific results within researchers working on desertification related issues around the world.

Scientific and organizing committee : Prof. Giuseppe Enne Prof. Antonello Pazzona Prof. Luciano Gutierrez Prof. Pier Paolo Roggero Prof.ssa Rosa Cidu Dott.ssa Maria Teresa Melis Prof. Albert Soler Gil Prof. Giorgio Ghiglieri Dott. Matteo Funaro Dott.ssa Francesca Demuro

Organized by: NRD-UNISS, Desertification Research Centre, Department of Agricultural Science, University of Sassari With the contribution of: Department of Chemical and Geological Science and TeleGis Laboratory, University of Cagliari

Sassari 18 Giugno 2015 Aula Barbieri – Department of Agricultural Science

Centre of Applied Mineralogy and Geochemistry of fluids, Department of Crystallography, Mineralogy, and Minerals deposits, Faculty of Geology, University of Barcelona

World Day to Combat Desertification 2015

The World Day to Combat Desertification has been observed since 1995 to promote public awareness relating to international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought. In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17th the "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" to promote public awareness of the issue, and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa. Ever since, country Parties to the Convention, organizations of the United Nations System, international and non-governmental organizations and other interested stakeholders have celebrated this particular day with a series of outreach activities worldwide. The World Day to Combat Desertification is a unique occasion to remind everybody that desertification can be effectively tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and co-operation at all levels.

The focus for 2015 is “attainment of food security for all through sustainable food systems.” With the slogan, ‘No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soil’, the 2015 observance calls for:

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

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

A balance in the land use for ecology and consumption, drawing on the best practices

More investments in sustainable land practices so that sustainable food systems become the normal practice

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.

The Day will feature a global observance event in Milan, Italy, during the 2015 UN Expo as well as National and local observances.

Sassari 18 Giugno 2015 Aula Barbieri – Department of Agricultural Science

AGENDA Chair: Prof. Luciano Gutierrez 11:30-11:40 Welcoming addresses Prof. Antonello Pazzona – Director of Department of Agricultural Science – University of Sassari 11:40-11:55 Claudio Arras (PhD Student, Science and Technology of the Earth and Environment, University of Cagliari,. NRD-UNISS, University of Sassari; Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari). Project: WADIS MAR*

Three-dimensional hydrogeological model of the Biskra and Batna region. Modeling of Ouadi Biskra infero-flux aquifer finalized to Managed Aquifer Recharge interventions: first results (NE Algeria)

11:55-12:10 Cristina Buttau (Researcher - Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari). Project. WADIS MAR*

Three-dimensional hydrogeological model of the Oum Zessar watershed finalized to Managed Aquifer Recharge interventions (South Tunisia).

12:10-12:25 Manuela Barbieri (Researcher - Centre of Applied Mineralogy and Geochemistry of fluids, Department of Crystallography, Mineralogy and Minerals deposits, Faculty of Geology, University of Barcelona) Project: WADIS MAR*

Isotopic tools applied to the hydrogeochemical characterization of two watersheds in Maghreb Regions (Oued Biskra-Algeria and Oum Zessar-Tunisia): results from the WADIS-MAR Project

12:25-12:40 Alberto Carletti (PhD Student, Science and Technology of the Earth and Environment, University of Cagliari,. NRD-UNISS, University of Sassari; Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari). Project: WADIS MAR*

Managed Aquifer Recharge systems for the integrated groundwater management in arid regions (Tunisia, Algeria)

12:40-12:55 Hanen JARRAY, (Phd Student, ENIS/ Institute of Arid Regions of Médenine)

Assessment of the vulnerability of an aquifer in an arid climate by DRASTIC and SINTACS methods: Case study of Zeuss-Koutine aquifer, South-East Tunisia

12:55-14:30 Light lunch 14:30-14:45 Micaela Gabriela Afrasinei (PhD Student in Defense and soil conservation, environmental vulnerability and soil protection, University of Cagliari). Project: WADIS MAR*

Classification methods for detecting and evaluating changes in desertification-related features in arid and semiarid environments (Algeria and Tunisia).

Sassari 18 Giugno 2015 Aula Barbieri – Department of Agricultural Science

14:45-15:00 Oumelkheir Belkheiri (Researcher, NRD-UNISS, University of Sassari) Project: WADIS MAR*

Deficit irrigation for more used crops to contrast water scarcity in Tunisia 15:00-15:15 Riccardo Biddau (Researcher - Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari) Project: KNOW**

Nitrate occurrence in groundwater hosted in hard-rock aquifers: assessing the role of geogenic factors at a regional scale

15:15-15:30 Fabrizio Cocco (Researcher – NRD-UNISS, University of Sassari; Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari) Project: KNOW**

The use of a geological depositional model to assess 3D hydrogeologycal features in nitrate vulnerable zones: the Arborea plain (Sardinia, Italy).

15:30-15:45 Stefania Da Pelo (Researcher - Department of Chemical and Geological Science, University of Cagliari) Project: KNOW**

Hydrogeochemical tools supporting hydrogeological assessment (examples from Arborea and Nurra districts)

15:45-16:00 Maria Laura Ruiu (Researcher - NRD-UNISS, University of Sassari) Project: KNOW** and CADWAGO***

Designing adaptive responses to environmental changes towards sustainable agricultural systems: the role of social capital.

16:00-16:15 Clara Demurtas (Researcher - NRD-UNISS, University of Sassari). Project: KNOW**

Assessment of the potential nitrate leaching from agricultural sources in a Mediterranean Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ): the case study of Arborea

16:15-17:00 Discussion and closing remarks Moderator: Prof. Pier Paolo Roggero *WADIS-MAR - Water harvesting and Agricultural techniques in Dry lands: an Integrated and Sustainable model in MAghreb Regions (www.wadismar.eu)

**KNOW - implementing the Knowledge of NitrOgen in groundwater (www.uniss.it/nrd) ***CADWAGO - Climate change adaptation and water governance: reconciling food security, renewable energy and the

provision of multiple ecosystem services (www.uniss.it/nrd)