Any sustainable response to land degradation must address the issue’s socio-economic, political, institutional, technical and scientifi c aspects. African countries, that are hardest hit by this phenomenon, have committed themselves resolutely to this long-term battle and, at the same time, are intensifying efforts to preserve natural resources and alleviate poverty.

As the international community celebrates the International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD) in 2006, it is the ideal time to look at some exercises conducted in Africa as part of the implementation of the UNCCD.

Showcasing this selection of fruitful experiences from various African sub-regions also allows us to appreciate the complexity of the problems facing countries across the continent. It also highlights the need for a multi-faceted approach that can and must be adopted in order to ensure sustainable development. In this regard, we will see that it is imperative to harness the participation of local stakeholders, coordinate actions and pursue a holistic approach if degraded land is to be successfully restored.

The examples presented in this brochure also demonstrate how determined African countries are to take charge of their own development, even though many of them fi nd themselves in intensely diffi cult situations owing to widespread poverty and the lack of fi nancial resources, both of which severely hamper their ability to defeat desertifi cation.