The main cause of desertification and land degradation is over-intensive, unsustainable land use. Around a billion people live in rural dryland areas alone. Combating desertification acquires particular significance on account of the close linkages with global climate change, biodiversity loss and the resulting rise in food insecurity.

The sparing use of resources and the sustainable development of drylands are the foremost goals of efforts to combat desertification, which then contribute to poverty reduction and the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ can bring to this effort its extensive experience in the international as well as local arena. Many prognoses show that land degradation can be combated successfully. Brazil is an example of combating desertification successfully. In the north-east of the country GIZ is supporting pilot projects which provide models for coping with desertification and climate change, as well as projects on sustainable forest management, alternative sources of income, sustainable water and soil management, and environmental education.

These projects relieve the pressure on natural resources and at the same time have an impact on policies, while policy advice is simultaneously provided in the field.

Table of content:

1. Combating desertification: The international convention
2. Twenty year's resource management in the Sahel: What have we learned?
3. The experience of german development cooperation in combating desertification
4. Shortfalls in knowledge and unresolved issues