WOCAT - World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies

Launched in 1992, The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) is a global Network sharing the same aim to document, share, and apply sustainable land management (SLM) knowledge. Pioneer in transformative action for SLM, the Network establishes an innovative space for sharing and scaling good practices to address land degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This facilitates local, national, regional and global knowledge sharing and analysis of which good practices work where, how and why, and what are their costs and benefits. Due to its long-term presence and wealth of knowledge, the WOCAT Global SLM Database has been officially recognized by the UNCCD as the primary recommended Global Database for SLM best practices. WOCAT’s role in documenting and sharing of SLM good practices, building capacities and supporting the implementation of UNCCD has been highlighted by the five UNCCD COP15 decisions that specifically relate to and mention WOCAT. The main WOCAT services include: - Global Network of SLM specialists, forming partnerships, and maximizing synergies. - Standardised way to document SLM knowledge and host of a user-friendly database. - Tools to assess SLM solutions to promote their wide adoption and spread Training and capacity building in SLM. - Dissemination of targeted information via different channels ensuring strong knowledge flow related to SLM. - Searching and selecting SLM options: decision support for mainstreaming and scaling out SLM. - Mapping problems and progress: spatial assessment of land degradation and SLM in the context of Land Degradation Neutrality.