According to SREDA.uz websites, UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja will visit Uzbekistan from 30 April to 2 May 2013.

It is expected that Tashkent will host a roundtable, which will attended by officials of Uzgidromet (Uzbek Hydro Metrology), Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management, Irrigation Fund, and others. Luc Gnacadja will also participate at the roundtable.

The roundtable will discuss measures on fighting desertification, land degradation, land improvement and water supply in Uzbekistan.

During the visit, he will also visit Samarkand city, where he will meet employees of the Uzbek scientific-research institute of karakul and ecology of desert to discuss issues on pasture management.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification came into force in 1996. It was ratified by 195 countries. Uzbekistan was one of the first countries, which signed and ratified the convention (31 October 1995).