supported by
International Conference on: Soil & Water Resources Management for Combating Desertification in Drylands under Climate Change SWDCC’2026.
Organized by the Laboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification (ELCD) of the Institut des Regions Arides (IRA)and scheduled to take place from 16 to 19 May 2026 in Djerba Island, Tunisia .
In tribute to the late Prof. Houcine Khatteli, former DG of IRA:
Houcine Khatteli ex-Director General of IRA (1996-2021)
Prof. Khatteli (1953–2021), born in Zarzis, was a leading Tunisian researcher in drylands management, land degradation, and combating desertification. He contributed extensively to national and international projects (WB, FAO, UNDP, EU, UNESCO, etc.), published widely, and trained generations of scholars. As Director General of IRA (1996–2021) and acting Director of the Technopark of the South, he transformed institutions into centers of excellence and strengthened global cooperation.
Main themes and areas of discussion during the conference are :
Examines the characteristics of arid and semi-arid climates, climate variability, and the impacts of global environmental change on ecosystems and livelihoods.
Promotes sustainable water use in arid regions through integrated management, innovative technologies, and efficient resource practices.
Focuses on understanding and mitigating physical, chemical, and biological soil degradation processes, particularly in arid and semi-arid environments.
Focuses on advanced tools and technologies for tracking land degradation, environmental change, and resource dynamics in arid regions.
Promotes integrated approaches that balance water, energy, food, and ecosystem needs to achieve sustainable development in drylands.
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A professor at Texas A&M University and global leader in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. He has led $24M+ in research, published 400+ works, trained 100+ graduate students, and founded major initiatives at Texas A&M and American University of Beirut, earning international awards and recognition.
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A Water Resources and Irrigation Engineer with 25+ years of global experience across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. He specializes in irrigation, groundwater, water policy, and climate-resilient management, working with governments, multilateral agencies, research institutions, and industry to deliver sustainable, efficient, and resilient water solutions worldwide.
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A Senior Scientist at the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IBE), specializing in climate science with a PhD in Physical Modeling for Environmental Protection from the University of Bologna. He focuses on weather and climate modeling, seasonal forecasting, and climate services to support water management, drought monitoring, and adaptation strategies across the Mediterranean, Europe, and Africa.
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The SWDCC'2026 is organized in partnership with:
