United Nations Conference on Desertification in retrospect
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UNCCD Library
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paper
The United Nations Conference on Desertification was the first time the nations of the world turned their concerted attention to a comprehensive plan to halt and reverse desertification. The global annual loss to
desertification is in the order of 60,000 km. 2 It is man's action that degrades the land by misuse as he seeks to wrest a living from fragile ecosystems. A change to a more arid climate could be a cause, but no firm evidence is available that the climate is so changing.
Conference deliberations concluded that the causes and the technical solutions to combatting desertification are known. The key to combative measures is to be found in proper land use. If desertification is to be brought to a halt by the end of the century, considerable financial resources will, however, be necessary.
The paper includes a comprehensive summary of the unpublished statements of the various national governments regarding their probiems, an analysis of the Conference, and a brief discussion of action taken since the Conference.
Globaily, we have the basic technology, human resources and finance to solve desertification problems, especially in developing countries. The problem is a lack of awareness and political will both nationally and internationally.
A World Conference is one of the few options available for creating awareness and political will at a global level. Nothing has done more to raise global consciousness regarding the lack of basic needs of an
impoverished billion than World Conferences held by the United Nations.
The Desertification Conference will have a profound impact on thinking and practice for the rest of this century. During this time we cant as Dr. Tolba frequently stated t bring desertification to a halt.
Grateful acknowledgements are made to Dr. M.K. Tolba Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme Nairobi; Dr. B. Rozanov; Dr. G. Karrar and Dr. N. Omer of the Desertification Unit United Nations Environment Programmes Nairobi; Dr. M. Kassas of Cairo University Egypt and Professor F. Rabar Program Leader Food and Agriculture International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; for the critical reading of the first draft of this paper.
desertification is in the order of 60,000 km. 2 It is man's action that degrades the land by misuse as he seeks to wrest a living from fragile ecosystems. A change to a more arid climate could be a cause, but no firm evidence is available that the climate is so changing.
Conference deliberations concluded that the causes and the technical solutions to combatting desertification are known. The key to combative measures is to be found in proper land use. If desertification is to be brought to a halt by the end of the century, considerable financial resources will, however, be necessary.
The paper includes a comprehensive summary of the unpublished statements of the various national governments regarding their probiems, an analysis of the Conference, and a brief discussion of action taken since the Conference.
Globaily, we have the basic technology, human resources and finance to solve desertification problems, especially in developing countries. The problem is a lack of awareness and political will both nationally and internationally.
A World Conference is one of the few options available for creating awareness and political will at a global level. Nothing has done more to raise global consciousness regarding the lack of basic needs of an
impoverished billion than World Conferences held by the United Nations.
The Desertification Conference will have a profound impact on thinking and practice for the rest of this century. During this time we cant as Dr. Tolba frequently stated t bring desertification to a halt.
Grateful acknowledgements are made to Dr. M.K. Tolba Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme Nairobi; Dr. B. Rozanov; Dr. G. Karrar and Dr. N. Omer of the Desertification Unit United Nations Environment Programmes Nairobi; Dr. M. Kassas of Cairo University Egypt and Professor F. Rabar Program Leader Food and Agriculture International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; for the critical reading of the first draft of this paper.
Keywords
UNCOD
land degradation
desertification
historical collection
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