Introduction to the Global Symposium on Soil Organic Carbon

(GSOC17)21-23 March 2017, FAO Headquarters, Rome

Milestone event: First time that a scientific symposium of this nature is co-

organized by different organizations and bodies of the United Nations to gather scientific evidence for policy development on the role of Soil Organic Carbon for climate change, food security

and SDGs agendas.

Participants

Female

Male

Africa

AsiaEurope

Latin America and the Caribbean

Near East

North America

South-West Pacific

488 participants from111 countries

67%

33%Female

Male

Pursuing to be a carbon neutral event

Sponsors

GSOC17 Agenda

PLENARY SESSIONS (RED ROOM, A121)• Plenary 1 (Today, 11:45-13:00): Setting the scientific scene for GSOC17

• Plenary 2 (Today, 14:00-16:00): Setting the challenges of GSOC17 themes

• Key note of Ms. Patricia Espinosa, UNFCCC Executive Secretary

• Plenary 3 (Thursday 23rd, 14:00-17:20): Unlocking the potential of SOC for climate action, food security and sustainable development

PARALLEL AND POSTER SESSIONS

Posters (Atrium) :

Display (all three days) Session (tomorrow, 14:15-16:00)

Theme 1: Monitoring, mapping, measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) of SOC (Iraq Room – A235; additionally Philippines Room – C281 tomorrow, Wednesday 22nd March afternoon only)

Theme 2: Maintaining and/or increasing SOC stocks for climate change mitigation and adaptation and Land Degradation Neutrality (Red Room – A121) (Webcast)

Theme 3: Managing SOC in3.1 Soils with high SOC – peatlands, permafrost and black soils (Mexico Room - D211)3.2 Grasslands and livestock production systems (Philippines Room – C281)3.3 Dryland soils (Ethiopia Room – C285)

WORKING GROUPS (Thursday 23rd, 8:30-13:00)

Work groups per theme to develop scientific, policy and advocacy messages for the Outcome Document “Unlocking the potential of SOC”

Moderated by the Theme Chairs to answer the key questions per theme listed in the GSOC17 Concept Note:

• Theme 1: Ms. Liesl Wiese, Iraq Room (A235)

• Theme 2: Mr. Joris de Vente, Red Room (A121)

• Theme 3: Ms. Clair Chenu, Ethiopia Room (C285)

• 2 side events at 13:00 : Today: Launch of the International Network of Black Soils (Iran Room – B016) Tomorrow: World Water Day 2017 (Sheikh Zayed Center)

Launch of the FAO publication: “Soil Organic Carbon: the hidden potential”

(Today, during the cocktail, 8th floor, 18:00-19:30)

OTHER EVENTS

Output of the GSOC17• Outcome Document:

“Unlocking the potential of Soil Organic Carbon”

• Special Issue in the scientific journal Global Change Biology

A point of inflexion on Soil Organic Carbon by setting an agenda for action under the Global Soil Partnership

(an open platform to promote sustainable soil management)