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In a global commitment to combat desertification
the U.N. Conference on Desertification (Nairobi, 1977),
the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (Rio
Janeiro, 1992) and the U.N. Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) (Paris,
1997) were historic landmarks.
Under UNCCD provisions and support, Asian countries
facing drought and desertification have collectively
carried out many activities and held meetings and conferences.
Most important of these were the Regional Conference
on Implementation of UNCCD in Asia (New Delhi, 1996),
the Ministerial Conference on Regional Co-operation
to Implement the UNCCD in Asia (Beijing, 1997) and
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International
Expert Group Meeting on the Preparation of a Regional
Action Programme (RAP) on Combating Desertification
and Drought in Asia (Bangkok, 1998).
These
meetings resulted in Regional Action Programmes (RAPs)
and National Action Plans (NAPs), which in turn are
supported by six Thematic Programme Networks (TPNs).
Each TPN deals with a critical theme of desertification.
It is co-ordinated from an Asian country with
competence in that area, and centres around the exchange
of knowledge on traditional and modern methods for combating
desertification. TPNs provide the necessary grounds
for regional and national collaboration. Table
1 lists the subject coverage and host country for each
TPN.
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