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In many parts of the world the quality of land is decreasing, thereby limiting its capacity to provide the manifold goods and services humanity depends on for existence. It is estimated that the health and livelihoods of an estimated 1.5 billion people are currently threatened through the negative impacts of land degradation. Alarmed by the Sahelian drought in the early 1970s, the…

Land and land-based natural resources are the foundation of livelihoods for millions of people and are related to social, cultural and spiritual identity.This is particularly the case for drylands people, who, due to low and variable rainfall and water availability, have developed adaptive strategies in response to seasonal, climatic and environmental change. Gender roles play an important role…

Dryland peoples face significant challenges from environmental, demographic and socio-economic trends, and the added threat of climate change. These challenges are exacerbated by the generic and multi-faceted marginalization of drylands areas resulting from persistent myths and misconceptions and a history of highly inappropriate policies, under-investment, poverty, social exclusion and…

Governance refers to decision-making by a range of stakeholders, including individuals, both in formal positions of power and ‘ordinary’ citizens, households, communities and organizations. Each stakeholder brings different interests, leverage and power to governance, in the process of establishing who decision making is ‘by’ and ‘for’. An active and empowered citizenry is essential to good…

Dryland peoples and areas face significant challenges from environmental change, demographic and socioeconomic trends, and the added threat of climate change. The marginalization of dryland zones have resulted from persistent misconceptions and a history of highly inappropriate policies, creating under-investment, poverty, social exclusion and environmental degradation. Women play an…

Ending poverty and addressing climate change are the two defining issues of our time. Both are essential to achieving sustainable global development. But they cannot be considered in isolation. This report brings together these two overarching objectives and explores how they can be more easily achieved if considered together. It demonstrates the urgency of efforts to reduce poverty and the…