14th Annual WOCAT (World Overview of Conservation Approaches and technologies) Workshop and Steering Meeting in Morocco

Mongolian representatives from CODEP and the Desertification Study Centre (DSC) of the Geo-ecological Institute attended the 14th WOCAT Annual Workshop and Steering Meeting (WWSM) held in Morocco on 13-17 October.

(WOCAT is a network of Soil and water conservation specialists from all over the world).

The purpose of the event was to bring together the main collaborating and funding institutions, assess the progress and share experiences, extend the programme and plan for the future.

WOCAT experts from more than 16 countries were present at the event. The key task of our delegation was to introduce WOCAT activities and progress in Mongolia since 2007 and to exchange experiences and information with other countries. When the attendants were informed about the book on "Soil and Water conservation technologies and Approaches in Mongolia", developed by DSC with the support of the project, the main feedbacks were to have the book translated, so it is worldwide known and used by the users and conservation experts. Another attractive comment was that WOCAT confesses itself as weak in terms of documented technologies on pasture management and its protection, hence Mongolia's experience and knowledge in this is feasible to contribute to WOCAT network..

At the discussions of Task forces participants worked on the development of an instrument/tool for participatory impact monitoring (IM) and assessment of sustainable land management (SLM) technologies and approaches at local, e.g land users' level.
They refined indicators of impact monitoring so it can be used for collecting more precise information on local impact, showing concrete results of a specific SLM technologies for further justification for up-scaling. Finalization of IM tool will continue throughout the next year, coordinated and facilitated by Management Team of WOCAT.

WOCAT network members assessed the progress in using the WOCAT methodology and its different tools during the last year in their respective countries and presented the outputs as well as impacts achieved. Furthermore they informed about the work plans they have in using WOCAT next year.

The WWSM ended up with a field trip visiting some land use systems in Morocco and areas where the Moroccan WOCAT partners are active.

For your reference

WOCAT activities in Mongolia in 2009

The WOCAT concept and methodology is introduced by Coping with Desertification project funded by SDC and well accepted by Desertification Study Centre of Geo-Ecology Institute, and seen as important tool that could be applied in Mongolia for compiling existing technologies and shared through worldwide database, which WOCAT maintains. Staffs of DSC are well trained of WOCAT tools and focal point of WOCAT person has been appointed by the Institute.

WOCAT basic questionnaires on Technology and Approach were translated into Mongolian language and successfully compiled a total of 19 technologies for grazing land experiences, agronomic, structural and management type including technologies which were applied by UNDP Sustainable Grassland Management Project, are documented together with experts. Inventory list of technologies is drafted.

Activities in general
• Introduction of WOCAT training to DSC staff, by CODEP
• Training on WOCAT, International backstopping, CDE
• Training to data collectors in 3 Gobi aimags, DSC
• Translation of Ts and As into Mongolian language
• Documentation of 19 technologies
• Translation of the database into Mongolian language
• 4 pages of summary of 19 technologies be ready to represented in the Science exhibition in November
• Students practical work (3 students trained on WOCAT questionnaires and filled out 5 technologies in Khovd aimag)