The role of science and technology

The Convention to Combat Desertification has established a Committee on Science and Technology (CST). Composed of government representatives, the CST provides advice to the Conference of the Parties (COP) on scientific and technological matters relevant to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. It meets in conjunction with the ordinary sessions of the COP, and its Bureau is responsible for follow-up between COP sessions.

Consistent with the provisions of the Convention, particularly Articles 16, 18 and 24, the functions of the CST are as follows. It provides advice to the COP on technological and scientific matters, and collects, analyses and reviews relevant data. In addition, it promotes cooperation in the field of combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought through appropriate subregional, regional and national institutions, and in particular by its activities in research and development, which contribute to increased knowledge of the processes leading to desertification and drought as well as their impact. It also contributes to distinguishing causal factors, both natural and human, with a view to combating desertification and achieving improved productivity as well as the sustainable use and management of resources.

The Convention promotes international cooperation in scientific research and observation. The CST serves as a liaison between the COP and the scientific community by seeking the cooperation of, and utilizing the services and information provided by, competent bodies or agencies - national, international and non-governmental. The CST keeps itself informed of the activities of the scientific advisory bodies of the Convention and coordinates the activities of the COP in order to avoid duplication and optimize efficiency.

New technologies and know-how should be developed, transferred to affected countries, and adapted to local circumstances. Modern communications, satellite imagery, and genetic engineering are only a few examples of modern tools that can help in combating desertification. Better weather forecasts and alerts can help to maintain or increase the land‘s productivity while improving food security and local living conditions. So too can new plant and animal varieties that are resistant to pests, diseases, and other dryland stresses. Photovoltaic cells and wind energy may reduce the consumption of scarce fuelwood and thus deforestation. For all these reasons, the Convention commits Parties to promoting technological cooperation. It calls for the promotion and financing of the transfer, acquisition, adaptation, and development of technologies that help to combat desertification or cope with its effects. These technologies should also be environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially acceptable.

Many related international organizations and the CST have identified traditional knowledge and know-how as important means of combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. People have been coping with the degradation of land and other natural resources since the advent of agriculture thousands of years ago. Many local populations have developed techniques for managing soil and water, domesticating plants and animals, and even for forecasting the weather. Examples include the terracing of steep slopes in the Andes and Himalayas and the use of irrigation systems around the world since prehistoric times. Many of these traditional technologies are still in use and have proved their effectiveness over centuries. Too often, however, changes in economic, ecological, or cultural conditions have led people to abandon techniques that could still be valuable today. The Convention states, therefore, that traditional and local technologies and know-how should be protected. Inventories should be made of such technologies and information about them widely disseminated. Local populations should benefit directly from any commercial use of their techniques.

The COP will draw scientific and technology researchers into a global network to support the Convention. Under the leadership of the COP, the CST has surveyed and identified existing networks, institutions, agencies, and other bodies working on issues relevant to desertification, and has established a database based on their responses. It will evaluate the principal potential units in certain regions and subregions through a pilot in-depth survey, and then replicate it in other regions in order to recommend to the COP ways and means of facilitating and strengthening networking of the units at the local, national and other levels, with a view to promoting a global research network committed to supporting the Convention. Scientists worldwide will be encouraged to contribute their knowledge and research results to this international effort.

Capacity-building, education and training are pivotal if those people in developing countries who are affected by desertification are to combat it themselves. Developing countries often suffer from a scarcity of domestic skills, expertise, libraries, and research centres. Many also need improved hydrological and meteorological services. The Convention encourages developed countries to support capacity-building efforts, which will enable developing countries to combat desertification more effectively through science and technology.

In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the work of the CST, the COP decided to establish a Group of Experts (GoE). This Group of Experts plays an important institutional role, providing the CST with information on the current knowledge, the extent and the impact, the possible scenarios and the policy implications on various themes assigned in its work programme. The results of the work performed by the GoE are widely recognized and include dissemination of its results on ongoing activities (benchmarks and indicators, traditional knowledge, early warning systems). The programme of work of the GoE, as well as its mandate, is pluri-annual in nature, for a maximum of four years. The GoE is composed of 25 members selected by the COP (decision 17/COP5 Annex). The programme of work emphasizes applied research, synthesis work and networking around concrete implementation issues (decision 15/COP6 Annex).

Relevant parts of the Convention: Articles 8, 16, 17, 24 and 25