Land degradation and desertification has always been a high priority for the SADC member States for they affect food production. On the road leading to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, SADC-ELMS sensitised, adviced and worked closely with member states to assist them to produce the national UNCED reports. It also produced the regional reports, Sustaining Our Common Future which became part of Agenda 21.

On the road from Rio, the UN General Assembly. through resolution 47/188, established on Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INCD) to elaborate an International Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa and new negotiations followed.