The 7th session of the committee for the review of the implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification started in İstanbul.
Speaking at the inauguration, Eroğlu said that Turkey was one of the countries suffering from desertification, and it actively participated in all efforts against this problem in the world.
Eroğlu said that according to UN's figures, general cost of desertification was 42 billion USD annually.
He added that currently 193 countries signed the Convention which aimed to combat desertification to provide sustainable development.