UN-ESCWA is organizing an “Expert Group Meeting on “Sustainable Land Management as a Best Practice to Enhance Rural Development in the ESCWA Region” from 25 to 27 March 2009 at the UN House, Riad el Solh Ave. Attending the meeting, which opens at 10:00 AM on Tuesday 25 March, are experts representing thirteen Ministries of Agriculture in the UN-ESCWA region. Similarly, representatives from the United Nations University (UNU), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (GM/UNCCD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Drylands (ACSAD) will attend the meeting. In addition, representatives of Lebanese NGOs and institutions concerned with the subject will also participate in the meeting. The meeting will provide an opportunity for experts both from UN-ESCWA region as well as national, regional and international organizations concerned with sustainable land management issues to discuss, review and assess viable options for promoting sustainable land management practices in reversing the trend of land degradation and improving productivity in furthering the agenda of sustainable rural development as well as reducing rural poverty. UN-ESCWA will present one major working paper along with three substantive presentations. In addition, experts attending the meeting will present papers for reviewing and discussing the issue of sustainable land management and achievements at country and regional levels. The meeting is expected to come out with practical and pertinent region specific action-oriented recommendations on sustainable land management practices, and a proposed communication strategy for member-country consideration.