World Status of Desertification
A. CONCEPT OF DESERTIFICATION
1. The concept of desertification was defined by UNCOD in 1977 as follows:

"Desertification is the diminution or destruction of the biological potential of land, and can lead ultimately to desert-like conditions. It is an aspect of the widespread deterioration of ecosystems, and has diminished or destroyed the biological potential, i.e. plant and animal production, for multiple use purposes at a time when increased productivity is needed to support growing populations in quest of development."

2. This definition was found inadequate and not sufficiently operational when attempts started in different parts of the world to implement various practical recommendations of the PACD and to undertake the quantitative assessment of desertification. A series of definitions was developed by individual scientists, scientific institutions and implementing agencies. A more precise new definition was required, particularly in view of the need to distinguish between desertification and another phenomenon of observed cyclic oscillations of vegetation productivity at desert fringes (desert expansion or contraction) as revealed by satellite data and related to climate fluctuations.

3. Based on special studies and extensive discussions at the Ad-Hoc Consultative Meeting on the Assessment of Desertification, which was convened by UNEP in Nairobi in February 1990, the following definition of desertification was adopted:

"Desertification/Land Degradation, in the context of assessment, is Land Degradation in Arid, Semi-arid and Dry Sub-humid Areas resulting from adverse human impact.

Land in this concept includes soil and local water resources, land surface and vegetation or crops.

Degradation implies reduction of resource potential by one or a combination of processes acting on the land. These processes include water erosion, wind erosion and sedimentation by those agents, long term reduction in the amount or diversity of natural vegetation, where relevant, and salinization and sodication."

4. The last definition was used by UNEP for the quantitative assessment of the status of desertification which was conducted during 1990-1991. The important point is not the exact wording of the definition of desertification but an agreement on a more operationally suitable tool for assessing and combating the problem. This definition sets desertification within the broad frame of global land degradation.

Table of contents:
1. The Definition of Desertification and its Programmatic Consequences for the International Community (R.S. Odingo)
2. Assessment of global desertification: status and methodologies (B.G. Rozanov)
3. Assessment of global desertification: status and methodologies - Addendum (B.G. Rozanov)
4. A methodology for assessment and mapping of desertification - Report of the Kenya pilot study - using the modified FAO/UNEP methodology for the assessment and mapping of desertification (W.K. Ottichilo et al.)
5. Recommendations on the application in the sagelian zone of FAO/UNEP provisional methodology for desertification assessment and mapping (N.G. Kharin)
6. Regional assessment of desertification, USSR/Asia (N.G. Kharin)
7. Explanatory note to the map of man-made desertification of the USSR arid lands scale 1:2.500.000. The Labour Banner Order Desert Institute, Turkmen SSR Academy of Sciences (Kharin N.G. and Orlovsky N.S.)
8. Explanatory note to the desertification map of arid areas in Mongolian Peoples Republic (N. Kharin)
9. Explanatory note to the map the present stat of desertification in Norhern Afganistan (G.S. Kalyenow and N.G. Kharin)
10. Geographic approach to landscape zonation (E.V. Milanova)
11. UNEP/DC-PAC Global assessment of desertification world atlas of thematic indicators of desertification (UNEP-DC/PAC - Proposal document, 11 February 1990)
12. Development of a new method for assessment and monitoring of desertification in Sahelian and Sudanian regions 1952-1987 (L. Guyot)

Appendices

1. Gudelines for General assessment of the status of human iduced soil degradation (GLASOD) (L.R. Olderman - Ed.)
2. Desertification and its control in Islamic Republic of Iran (M.R. Ganji and A. Farzaneh)
3. Desertification control activities in Japan