An introduction to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
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Fact sheet 1
An introduction to the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification
The Convention offers new themselves begin to suffer when The respective roles of donors
hope in the struggle against food and water supplies become and recipients are worked out in
desertification threatened. In the worst cases, partnership agreements
they endure famine, mass developed through a consultative
Over the past decades, the migration, and large economic process. The aim is to ensure
problem of land degradation in losses. Over 250 million people that funding programmes are
dryland regions has continued to are directly affected by better coordinated, that funding
worsen. The Convention desertification, and some one is based on the needs of the
promotes a fresh new approach thousand million (one billion) are affected countries, that donors
to managing dryland ecosystems at risk. (See Fact Sheet 3.) can be sure their funds are well
and - just as important - to spent, and that recipients obtain
managing development aid The Convention to Combat the maximum benefit from the
flows. Desertification is being sums available. (See Fact Sheet
implemented through action 5.)
Desertification is caused by programmes
climate variability and human Another radical departure is the
activities These programmes are the core strong emphasis on a “bottom-
of the Convention. At the up” approach with strong local
In the past, drylands recovered national level, they address the participation in decision-making
easily following long droughts underlying causes of
and dry periods. Under modern desertification and drought and Traditionally, local communities
conditions, however, they tend identify measures of preventing have been relatively passive
to lose their biological and and reversing it. National participants in development
economic productivity quickly programmes are complemented projects. Now the Convention
unless they are sustainably by subregional and regional puts them on an equal footing
managed. Today, drylands on programmes, particularly when with other actors in the
every continent are being transboundary resources such as development process.
degraded by overcultivation, lakes and rivers are involved. Communities and their leaders,
overgrazing, deforestation, and Action programmes are detailed as well as non-governmental
poor irrigation practices. Such in the five regional organizations, experts, and
overexploitation is generally implementation annexes to the government officials, work
caused by economic, Convention -- Africa, Asia, Latin closely together to formulate
environmental and social America and the Caribbean, the action programmes. For this
pressures, ignorance, war, and Northern Mediterranean, and innovative and complicated
drought. (See Fact Sheet 2.) Central and Eastern Europe. (See process to work, awareness
Fact Sheet 4.) campaigns are envisaged to
Desertification undermines the inform people about the new
land‘s productivity and The Convention promises to opportunities presented by this
contributes to poverty reshape the international aid Convention. (See Fact Sheet 6.)
process dramatically
Prime resources - fertile topsoil,
vegetation cover, and healthy It seeks to engage donor nations
crops - are the first victims of and agencies and recipient
desertification. The people countries in a new partnership.Science and technology are
vital tools in the fight against
desertification
The Committee on Science and
Technology, established under
the Convention, promotes
technological and scientific
cooperation among national,
Photo © Pamela Ceron Valladares
subregional and regional
institutions through data
collection, analysis and review
as well as the provision of up- private-sector financing are also environment. Social and
to-date scientific knowledge encouraged. (See Fact Sheet 8.) economic issues, including food
and advice. Land degradation security, migration, and political
can be minimized by means of The Convention has stability, are closely linked to
both new and traditional established a number of land degradation and drought.
technologies, ranging from institutions and procedures for So are such environmental topics
satellite monitoring to the guiding international action as climate change, loss of
terracing of steep hill slopes. biological diversity, and
Science and technology must The Convention entered into freshwater supplies. The
respond to people’s real needs, force on 26 December 1996, Convention emphasizes the need
and the Convention encourages three months after the fiftieth to coordinate research efforts
researchers around the world to country ratified it. As at March and action programmes for
combine their talents for this 2008, 193 countries and the combating desertification with
purpose. (See Fact Sheet 7.) European Union had ratified or these related concerns. (See
acceded to it. The supreme Fact Sheet 10.)
Financial resources need to be body of the Convention is the
channeled and invested more Conference of the Parties 2008: A new strategic plan and
efficiently (COP), which comprises ratifying framework for the UNCCD
governments and regional
Most funding is raised economic integration In September 2007, the eighth
domestically by the affected organizations. It is assisted in its Conference of the Parties in
countries, but bilateral tasks by two subsidiary bodies, Madrid adopted the ten-year
assistance programmes and the Committee on Science and strategic plan and framework to
international agencies also Technology and the Committee enhance the implementation of
provide large sums. The for the Review of the the Convention (The Strategy).
Convention has established a Implementation of the To make UNCCD a systemic and
Global Mechanism to promote Convention. The COP held eight worldwide response to global
the mobilization of financial sessions up to the beginning of environmental issues affecting
resources. In addition, the 2008, the first of which was land and its ecosystems that
Global Environment Facility has held in Rome in October 1997. deserves a specific momentum
been designated as a financial The COP will continue to meet and a strong international
mechanism to the Convention. biennially in the future. (See mobilization, The Strategy sets
To this effect, and as means to Fact Sheet 9.) out operational objectives on
enhance the implementation of issues including awareness
the Convention, the GEF Desertification is primarily a raising, policy framework,
adopted a new Operational problem of sustainable science and technology and
Programme (OP.15) exclusively development capacity-building (see Fact Sheet
designed to fund activities 16.)
related to land degradation. It is a matter of addressing
Innovative funding sources, poverty and human well-being,
including debt swaps and as well as preserving the
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 2
The causes of Desertification
Desertification is the respond to it rapidly. For land laws or customs. In many
degradation of drylands example, satellite imagery has cases, unregulated access to
shown that the vegetation land resources may lead some
It involves the loss of biological boundary south of the Sahara can individuals to maximize their own
or economic productivity and move by up to 200 km when a gains by overexploiting the land
complexity in croplands, wet year is followed by a dry at the expense of the community
pastures, and woodlands. It is one, and vice versa. as a whole. Poor people,
due mainly to climate variability particularly poor women, often
and unsustainable human People must also adjust to lack access to the best land,
activities. The most commonly these natural fluctuations depending instead on the most
cited forms of unsustainable fragile areas and resources. Their
land use are overcultivation, The biological and economic poverty may give them little
overgrazing, deforestation, and resources of drylands, notably alternative but to extract what
poor irrigation practices. soil quality, freshwater supplies, they can from the scarce
Seventy percent of the world’s vegetation, and crops, are easily resources available to them, even
drylands (excluding hyper-arid damaged. People have learned to though this degrades the land.
deserts), or some 3,600 million protect these resources with age-
hectares, are degraded. While old strategies such as shifting International economic forces
drought is often associated with agriculture and nomadic herding. can encourage people to
land degradation, it is a natural However, in recent decades overexploit their land
phenomenon that occurs when these strategies have become
rainfall is significantly below less practical due to changing International trade patterns can
normal recorded levels for a economic and political lead to the short-term
long time. circumstances, population exploitation of local resources for
growth, and a trend towards export, leaving little profit at the
Drylands respond quickly to more settled communities. When community level for managing or
climatic fluctuations land managers cannot or do not restoring the land. Similarly, the
respond flexibly to climate development of an economy
By definition, drylands have variations, desertification is the based on cash crops, or the
limited freshwater supplies. result. imposition of taxes, can distort
Precipitation can vary greatly local markets and promote
during the year. In addition to The relatively low priority given overexploitation of the land.
this seasonal variability, wide to environmental protection
fluctuations occur over years often leads to poor land
and decades, frequently leading management decisions
to drought. Over the ages,
dryland ecology has become The overuse of land may result
familiar to this variability in from specific economic
moisture; plants and animals can conditions or from inappropriatePhoto © Samuel de Leon
Ignorance, errors, and natural destroy productive land by uncrowded rural areas. But the
and man-made disasters can displacing its managers or causes of desertification are
also contribute to land causing heavy concentrations of complex, and the relationship
degradation migrants to overburden an area. between two variables such as
Natural disasters such as floods population and desertification is
Ignorance of the natural and droughts can have a similar not clear-cut. For example, a
environment played an effect. decline in population can result
important role in the US during in desertification since there
the infamous Dust Bowl of the What roles do increasing may no longer be enough people
1930s; among other errors, populations and population to manage the land adequately.
during a time of drought densities play? Many hillside terraces in Yemen
Midwestern farmers used have fallen into disrepair with
ploughs better suited for the It is tempting to conclude that the exodus of labour to
more temperate latitudes of an expanding human population neighbouring oil-rich countries.
Western Europe. In recent is the ultimate driving force Examples can also be cited of
decades, similar mistakes in the behind desertification. More areas that support large
choice of policies or people in an area inevitably concentrations of people without
technologies have led to land exert a greater pressure on that much degradation, such as
degradation in many countries, area’s resources; sometimes this around the city of Kano in
both developed and developing. pressure is indirect, as when Nigeria.
Disasters such as wars and growing urban populations place
national emergencies also demands on food production in
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 3
The consequences of desertification
Desertification reduces the Vegetation becomes damaged Food production is undermined
land’s resilience to natural
climate variability The loss of vegetation cover is Desertification is considered a
both a consequence and a cause major global environmental issue
Soil, vegetation, freshwater of land degradation. Loose soil largely because of the link
supplies, and other dryland can sandblast plants, bury them, between dryland degradation and
resources tend to be resilient. or leave their roots dangerously food production. A nutritionally
They can eventually recover exposed. When pastures are adequate diet for the world’s
from climatic disturbances, such overgrazed by too many animals, growing population implies
as drought, and even from or by inappropriate types, edible tripling food production over the
human-induced impacts, such as plant species may be lost, next 50 years. This will be
overgrazing. When land is allowing inedible species to difficult to achieve even under
degraded, however, this invade. favourable circumstances. If
resilience is greatly weakened. desertification is not stopped and
This has both physical and socio- Some of the consequences are reversed, food yields in many
economic consequences. borne by people living outside affected areas will decline.
the immediately affected area Malnutrition, starvation, and
Soil becomes less productive ultimately famine may result.
Degraded land may cause The relationship between soil
Exposed and eroded topsoil can downstream flooding, reduced degradation and crop yields,
be blown away by the wind or water quality, sedimentation in however, is seldom
washed away by rainstorms. The rivers and lakes, and siltation of straightforward. Productivity is
soil’s physical structure and bio- reservoirs and navigation affected by many different
chemical composition can channels. It can also cause dust factors, such as the weather,
change for the worse. Gullies storms and air pollution, disease and pests, farming
and cracks may appear and vital resulting in damaged machinery, methods, and external markets
nutrients can be removed by reduced visibility, unwanted and other economic forces.
wind or water. If the water sediment deposits, and mental
table rises due to inadequate stress. Wind-blown dust can also Desertification contributes to
drainage and poor irrigation worsen health problems, famine
practices, the soil can become including eye infections,
waterlogged, and salts may respiratory illnesses, and Famine typically occurs in areas
build up. When soil is trampled allergies. Dramatic increases in that also suffer from poverty,
and compacted by cattle, it can the frequency of dust storms civil unrest, or war. Drought and
lose its ability to support plant were recorded during the Dust land degradation often help to
growth and to hold moisture, Bowl years in the US, in the trigger a crisis, which is then
resulting in increased Virgin Lands scheme area in the made worse by poor food
evaporation and surface run-off. former USSR in the 1950s, and in distribution and the inability to
the African Sahel during the buy what is available.
1970s and 1980s.Photo © Ana Cecilia Gonzales Vigil
Desertification has enormous living conditions and the loss of At the global level, it is
social costs cultural identity further estimated that the annual
undermine social stability. income foregone in the areas
There is now increased immediately affected by
awareness of the relationship Desertification is a huge drain desertification amounts to
between desertification, mass on economic resources approximately US$ 42 billion
migration, and conflicts. In each year. The indirect
Africa, many people have There is little detailed data on economic and social costs
become internally displaced or the economic losses resulting suffered outside the affected
forced to migrate to other from desertification, although areas, including the influx of
countries due to war, drought, an unpublished World Bank “environmental refugees” and
and dryland degradation. The study suggested that the losses to national food
environmental resources in and depletion of natural resources in production, may be much
around the cities and camps one Sahelian country was greater.
where these people settle come equivalent to 20% of its annual
under severe pressure. Difficult Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 4
Action programmes for
combating desertification
The Convention to Combat sustainable development of administer their resources more
Desertification is being drylands. effectively while addressing the
implemented through national underlying socio-economic causes
action programmes (NAP) Efforts to combat of desertification. These
desertification should be fully approaches pay particular
Developed country Parties and integrated into other attention to preventive measures
affected country Parties are development programme and encourage a sense of
expected to consult on their frameworks commitment to sustainable
respective roles in supporting practices by the very people who
these programmes, which can Reversing land degradation and most depend upon the land. The
result in a more holistic, alleviating poverty go hand in programmes should be
integrated and participatory hand. Both involve improving sufficiently flexible to
management of natural food security, educating and accommodate new initiatives
resources in drylands training people, strengthening and local adaptations as
ecosystems. Once significant the capacity of local circumstances change. In many
effort has been made to design communities, and mobilizing instances, the strengthening of
a framework programme, non-governmental organizations. the capacities of key actors at
international solidarity might Similarly, because desertification the local level has proved
facilitate the launching of affects and is affected by successful in identifying and
specific projects and activities environmental concerns such as addressing challenges linked to
under the agreed policies, in an loss of biological diversity and decision making for natural
effective manner and without climate change, NAPs need to resources management. The lack
creating excessive transactional have a great potential to of a strong civil society presence
burden. Because programmes promote synergies with other in other affected states,
need to be adapted to programmes dealing with such however, continues to be a
particular regional issues. However, improved data drawback in ensuring people’s
circumstances, most of the at the country level and stronger participation in the mainstream
specific requirements are recognition of the NAPs have yet policy formulation and
described in the five regional to manifest this potential fully implementation process.
implementation annexes for through concrete initiatives.
Africa, Asia, Latin America and NAPs also specify the practical
the Caribbean, the northern Programmes outline long-term steps and measures to be taken
Mediterranean and Central and strategies and are formulated as well as the commitments
Eastern Europe. As at March with the active participation of made by national governments
2008, 102 National Action local communities to provide an “enabling
Programmes (NAPs) had been environment”
prepared and adopted. These These are essential for providing
instruments are considered to ownership and continuity for
be core references for an long-term programming. The
ongoing process of planning for participatory process enables
poverty reduction and the governments to coordinate andPhoto © Sabine Schmidt
Specific measures to improve international support to the NAP The Parties identified the
the economic environment in affected country Parties is integration of sustainable
could include creating financial urgently called for. development policies into
instruments suited to local economic policies as a
needs or the introduction of Subregional and regional challenge to be overcome
drought-resistant crops. Other action programmes (SRAPs and
measures could include RAPs) can help to harmonize They highlighted the urgent
promoting research activities, and strengthen national need of inter-ministerial
drought contingency plans, and programmes cooperation and for the
improved early warning systems. mainstreaming of action
National governments, for their These are designed through programmes into development
part, can make commitments to consultations among the strategies in order to address the
remove obstacles and provide affected countries of each problem in a comprehensive
support by enacting new laws or region (such as Africa) and sub- manner and to avoid duplication.
strengthening existing legislation region (such as West Africa). In Given that the NAPs cut across
and adopting policies that addition to boosting the many development sectors such
encourage sustainable efficiency of national as agriculture, forestry and
development, such as the programmes, SRAPs and RAPs water management, the NAPs
replacement of fuelwood by can promote joint programmes have, at times, encouraged
other energy sources. Part of the for the sustainable management inter-ministerial cooperation and
national budget must be clearly of shared rivers and other cross- focused attention on
earmarked for efforts to combat boundary ecosystems. The inappropriate land tenure or
desertification and drought thematic programme networks certain trade practices not
according to national conditions which often constitute the main conducive to sustainable land
and capabilities, but the NAPs elements of RAPs generate spin- use. Furthermore, Parties called
are also expected to mobilize off effects on activities taking for the insertion of Convention-
substantial financial resources place at the national level, such related measures into bilateral
from external sources. Lack of as water management, and multilateral negotiations.
predictable programme resources agroforestry and monitoring, and
and funding has slowed and forge each country‘s scientific Relevant parts of the
impeded the implementation of and technical capacities. They Convention
NAPs. As Parties are now moving may help in disseminating the
from the phase of programme knowledge of appropriate Articles 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11,
preparation to that of technologies and good practices. and Regional Implementation
implementation, the As at March 2008, 11 subregional Annex for Africa Articles 4, 8,
establishment of a country-driven and 2 regional action and 9
mechanism to mobilize programmes had been launched.
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 5
Partnership arrangements
between donors and affected countries
The Convention to Combat example, it is generally agreed mechanisms are contained in all
Desertification aims to that many past aid efforts regional implementation annexes.
facilitate a long-term suffered because they were
partnership for the sustainable “supply driven” by the financing The consultative process aiming
development of vulnerable agency, handled top-down by at the conclusion of partnership
drylands ecosystem, and, to planners, or delivered without agreements is a defining
this effect, to improve the adequate coordination at all moment in the implementation
channelling and investment of levels. These insights are process for the affected country
official development aid recognized in the Convention.
Under the Convention, the
The Convention considers that Partnership agreements are an consultations for concluding
its consensus approach enhances essential requirement for the partnership agreements are
policy coherence and a more implementation of the initiated and managed by the
effective delivery of Convention recipient country in order to
development aid. Developed move from programme planning
country Parties are invited to As a vital part of the Regional to operations. The government
make full use of this Implementation Annex for Africa, invites its partners to join a
multilateral instrument whose these agreements spell out coordinating body, which would
potential can only be realized explicitly the role of each act as a forum for consultations.
with their active involvement. partner, including donor agencies It ensures the participation of
Affected country Parties and governments, recipient policy makers from various
continues to review and governments and non- branches of the government,
enhances the regime of governmental organizations (NGOs), including ministries and
governance of natural resources in the implementation of the departments responsible for
in order to get maximum benefit Convention in a given country. finance and planning, as well as
from the limited assistance This should help to harmonize community leaders, members of
available. efforts and maximize the non-governmental organizations,
impact of assistance. Partnership and others responsible for the
The Convention builds upon agreements should be part of, or resulting activities. Participants
the lessons of the past and associated with, national action in these partnership forums work
expresses an international programmes. They could be used together to evaluate past efforts,
consensus for an integrated for many different purposes, identify the country’s needs, and
framework of action such as mobilizing financial set priorities and responses, thus
resources, reorienting assistance maximizing options for
Over the years, a great deal of mechanisms to fit the programme coherence and
insight has been gained into how Convention’s approach, making synergies. The participatory
to improve the process of inventories of funding sources, approach involving the inclusion
development aid aimed at the or developing new models for of local communities and collec-
more marginal ecosystems and technological cooperation. tivities would strengthen a
lower income groups. For Similar calls for coordination national consensus and respondPhoto © Daniel Chaves Aamot
to the policy objectives of in their respective development The need for a breakthrough in
international partners who favor policy approaches, and that it is mobilizing predictable financial
a more direct transfer of reflected in their cooperation resources
resources to natural resources with the developing country
end-users. partners. Their support must be Partnership arrangements have
channeled through a clearly been launched in only few
The mechanism to link up the identified mechanism for the countries and have not
recipient country with Convention’s implementation in materialized in most others,
international partners is thus order to ensure predictability of because of coordination
at the core of the resources at the national and difficulties between the
implementation dynamics regional levels. The donor recipient national focal points
partners, particularly developed and the relevant government
International partners would country governments, could also bodies responsible for the
include bilateral aid agencies, develop a consultation process allocation of development aid as
regional development banks, among themselves to structure well as a lack of past experience
and other international agencies. their dialogue with recipient in such arrangements. More
These partners would need to governments. They may wish to awareness raising and
agree on a format, round table identify bilateral chefs de file to commitment among donor
or otherwise, to suit national coordinate their activities to countries and a country-driven
circumstances on a revolving combat desertification. This consultative process have been
basis, and to pay due attention would help them to minimize pointed out by Parties as being
to monitoring their commitments. overlaps and gaps, and to indispensable for a breakthrough
The affected country Party would evaluate and respond to in mobilizing substantial and
also wish to integrate combating requests for assistance. predictable financial resources.
desertification into national
level poverty reduction Non-governmental Relevant parts of the
strategies, and to present its organizations are granted an Convention
case more systematically in unprecedented role in this
bilateral negotiations, with process Articles 10 and 14, plus Regional
donor partners. Implementation Annex for Africa
NGOs tend to be well-organized, Articles 6, 8, 9, 18, and 19.
The developed country Parties close to the community level,
recognize on the whole the and able to draw on a pool of
need to mainstream and skilled and experienced people.
coordinate their response The Convention recognizes these
strengths and makes specific
The donor partners must ensure provisions for NGOs to become
that implementation of the active partners in these
UNCCD deserves due attention partnership arrangements.
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 6
Participatory development: A bottom-up
approach to combating desertification
What role do local cannot necessarily identify local representatives of community
communities have under the needs and priorities or work out groups — as well as local
Convention to Combat how best to meet them. Local authorities (regional, district and
Desertification? communities have valuable municipal officials) are also
experience and special essential for mobilizing action.
Traditional development knowledge and understanding of Technical experts, researchers,
planning has too often been their own environment. When non-governmental organizations
“top-down”. Outside experts the responsibility for natural (NGOs) and voluntary associations
start the process by defining resource management is taken are called on to bring skills and
objectives, activities, and away from them, their use of expertise in response to locally
expected outputs. Sometimes land and other natural resources perceived challenges.
they visit the area to consult can become highly inefficient.
local authorities, inform them The result is often land When should local participation
of the plan, and invite the degradation. Participatory start and how should the
community to help in executing development recognizes the process be initiated?
projects. The Convention rights of local communities over
intends to turn this approach their resources. They have a At the very inception of a
upside down. The spirit and greater stake than anyone else in development initiative, to begin
letter of the Convention reflect improving agricultural with, the objectives and planned
the philosophy of participatory productivity while ensuring the activities should be identified
development. Action long-term ecological balance of through a participatory process,
programmes to combat their fragile lands. In addition, which includes the local level.
desertification are to originate local participation in planning Once a programme has started,
at the local level and to be and decision-making is essential the participants need to make
based on genuine local for building local capacity. regular reviews of progress made
participation. Shared ownership and obstacles encountered. When
of planned initiatives is a key Who should participate? each phase is completed, a
condition for their consultative mechanism should
sustainability. Those most directly involved in help them all to be involved in
the management, use and evaluating its outcome and
Why is local participation in benefits of a particular resource deciding on the next steps. NGOs,
project planning so important? must be active participants. In community based organizations
Projects must survive once the case of desertification, small (CBOs) and women’s and youth
experts withdraw! farmers (both men and women), organizations have a key role to
pastoralists, nomads and other play here. It may also be
Over the past two decades, local land users are clearly vital necessary for the central
programmes designed with little to the process, as they have the government to delegate more
reference to the perceptions most intimate contact with the decision-making authority and to
and capacities of local people land. Local leaders — village share key aspects of the
have often failed. Outsiders elders, traditional chiefs, and sustainable governance of naturalPhoto ©
resources with decentralized inter-village cooperation and establishment of partnership
authorities closer to the local coordinated management of the arrangements for the NAP
grass-roots level. regional environment. At the implementation.
national level, all of this input is
How can participation be translated into a national action Positive results and obstacles
strengthened? programme. In addition, the
national government needs to The strengthening of capacities
The participatory process is respond to local aspirations by for key actors at the local level
time-consuming and labour- providing an “enabling proved successful in identifying
intensive. Many affected Party environment”, including a and addressing challenges linked
states need a stronger civil legislative and macro policy to sustainable development. The
society presence. There are no framework conducive to bottom-up approach of the
short cuts. Awareness drylands development, public Convention helped in
campaigns are needed, to infrastructure and technical strengthening relationships
educate the public about the assistance. It also serves as the between governments and local
Convention and about national central point for contact with communities, particularly in
action programmes. Agricultural foreign aid providers. Ideally, larger countries. It also favored
extension services and NGOs can through the iterative NAP the decentralized involvement of
help to build up the process, information and ideas stakeholders and natural
community’s capacity for flow back and forth continuously resources end-users in the
“participatory programming”. among the various groups. development process. The lack of
Local decision-making a strong civil society presence in
procedures may have to be What are the specific a number of affected states, or,
adapted and strengthened. The programme activities where in certain cases, the troubled
community has to go through a input from the stakeholders is state of public security, has been
long learning and confidence- valued? a drawback to ensuring people’s
building process in order to take participation in the mainstream
full advantage of the new In the formulation and policy and decisionmaking
resources it now receives and implementation process of the process. Greater awareness
manages directly. Due attention national action programmes, the raising is necessary, in order to
is also paid to gender issues and focal points promote a bottom- encourage the further
the involvement of the more up approach by inviting local participation of NGOs, CBOs and
marginalized social groups. stakeholders to submit their women’s and youth organizations.
input. The involvement of local
How is local input used at the stakeholders is also encouraged Relevant parts of the Convention
regional and national levels? for the workshops and forums
that are being organized. These Articles 3, 5, 9 and 10, plus
At the local level, discussions facilitate the formulation of Regional Implementation Annex
are likely to take place in interdisciplinary field projects, for Africa Articles 6 and 9.
informal groups as well as in the exploration of linkages with
organized meetings. The results other multilateral conventions
need to be carried forward to and sustainable development
the provincial level to ensure policies, as well as the
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 7
The role of science and technology
The Convention to Combat combating desertification and In the framework of the CST
Desertification has established mitigating the effects of drought activities, new technologies and
a Committee on Science and through appropriate regional, know-how are being developed,
Technology (CST) sub-regional, and national transferred to affected
institutions, and in particular countries, and adapted to local
Composed of government through activities in research and circumstances
representatives, a Committee development, which contribute
on Science and Technology to increased knowledge of the Modern communications,
(CST) provides advice to the processes that contribute to land satellite imagery, and genetic
Conference of the Parties (COP) degradation, desertification and engineering are only a few
on scientific and technological drought as well as their impacts. examples of modern tools that
matters relevant to combating It also contributes to distin- can help in combating
desertification and mitigating guishing causal factors, both nat- desertification. Better weather
the effects of drought. By ural and human, with a view to forecasts and alerts can help to
decision 13/COP.8, the combating desertification maintain or increase the land’s
operations of the CST shall be and achieving improved land productivity while improving
reshaped in line with the 10- productivity as well as the food security and local living
year strategic plan and frame- sustainable use and management conditions. So too can new plant
work to enhance the implemen- of resources. and animal varieties that are
tation of the Convention (2008- resistant to pests, diseases, and
2018). Future sessions of the CST The Convention promotes other dryland stresses.
shall be organized in a predomi- international cooperation in Photovoltaic cells and wind
nantly scientific and technical scientific research and energy may reduce the
conference-style format, systematic observation consumption of scarce fuel wood
bringing on board scientific and thus deforestation. For all
expertise from the international The CST serves as a liaison these reasons, the Convention
community to support the work between the COP and the commits Parties to encourage
of the CST. scientific community by seeking technological cooperation. It
the cooperation of, and utilizing calls for the promotion and
Consistent with the provisions the services and information financing of the transfer,
of the Convention, the provided by, competent bodies acquisition, adaptation, and
functions of the CST are as or agencies - national, development of technologies that
follows international and non- help to combat desertification or
governmental. The CST keeps cope with its effects. These
It provides advice to the COP on itself informed of the activities technologies should also be
scientific and technological of the scientific advisory bodies environmentally sound,
matters, and collects, analyses of the other Conventions and economically viable, and socially
and reviews relevant data. In coordinates the activities of the acceptable.
addition, it promotes coopera- COP in order to avoid duplication
tion in the field of and optimize efficiency.Many related international
organizations and the CST have
identified traditional knowledge
and know-how as very
important means of combating
desertification and mitigating
the effects of drought
People have been coping with
the degradation of land and Photo © Pamela Ceron Valladares
other natural resources since
the introduction of agricultural
practices thousands of years
ago. Many local populations depth survey, and then played an important institutional
have developed techniques for replicates it in other regions in role, providing the CST with
managing soil and water, domes- order to recommend to the COP information on the current
ticating plants and animals, and ways and means of facilitating knowledge, the extent and the
even for forecasting the weather. and strengthening networking of impact, the possible scenarios
Examples include the terracing the units at the local, national and the policy implications on
of steep slopes in the Andes and and other levels, with a view to various themes assigned in its
Himalayas and the use of promoting a global research work programme. Its
irrigation systems around the network committed to supporting achievements included
world since prehistoric times. the Convention. Scientists world- developments of:
Many of these traditional wide are always encouraged to communication strategies
technologies are still in use and contribute with their knowledge between the activities of the
have proved their effectiveness and research results to this inter- GoE, end-users and the research
over centuries. Too often, national effort. community; guidelines to update
however, changes in economic, the world atlas of
ecological, or cultural Capacity building, education desertification; an integrative
conditions have led people to and training are essential to assessment methodology for
abandon techniques that could help affected developing poverty and land degradation;
still be valuable today. The countries in combating recommendations on ways to
Convention states, therefore, desertification at local level eliminate perceived gaps
that traditional and local between biophysical, socio-
technologies and know-how Developing countries often economic and cultural
should be protected, promoted suffer from a scarcity of knowledge and activities to
and used. domestic skills, expertise, combat desertification;
libraries, and research centres. methodologies for assessment of
The COP works to draw Many also need improved desertification; guidelines for
scientific and technology hydrological and meteorological both short-term and long-term
researchers into a global services. The Convention early warning systems; and
network to support the encourages developed countries common benchmark and
Convention to support capacity-building indicator systems for the
efforts, which will enable monitoring and assessment of
Under the leadership of the developing countries to combat desertification.
COP, the CST has surveyed and desertification more effectively
identified existing networks, through science and technology. Relevant parts of the
institutions, agencies, and other Convention
bodies working on issues In order to improve the
relevant to desertification, and efficiency and effectiveness of Articles 8, 16, 17, 18, 24 and 25
has established a database the CST, the COP established a
based on their responses. It Group of Experts (GoE)
evaluates the principal potential
units in certain regions and Until its terms of reference
subregions through a pilot in- concluded in 2007, the GoE
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 8
Financing to combat desertification
How much money is needed to private investment is also concessional loans, through both
combat desertification? important in these regions, bilateral and multilateral
although it has been largely channels. They also pledge to
It is difficult to estimate just untapped in Africa. The World seek new and additional funding
how much money will be needed Bank, the International Fund for through the Global Environment
to achieve the objective of the Agricultural Development (IFAD), Facility (GEF) for activities to
Convention to Combat regional development banks, and combat desertification under its
Desertification. The cost will other international financial new OP.15. In addition to funding
depend largely on the contents institutions also play a prominent land degradation projects, this
of the National Action role, as do United Nations programme also envisages to fund
Programmes (NAPs) through organizations and agencies. Non- the elaboration of action
which affected countries will governmental organizations programmes and national reports
seek to implement the (NGOs) are another significant under the Convention, through
Convention. The United Nations source, particularly in Africa. capacity building components.
Environment Programme (UNEP) Since the adoption of Land Action programmes have however
estimates that an effective 20- degradation as a GEF Focal area proven to be costly. In this
year global effort would cost US and ensuing Operational regard, collaborations with
$ 10-22 billion per year. To put Programme on sustainable land private sector and non-
this estimate in perspective, management (OP.15) in 2003, governmental organizations for
UNEP also calculates that the implementation of the implementation of actions such
desertification currently causes Convention can rely on predic- as debt swaps and other
affected countries to forego table financial resources never innovative means of reducing
some US$ 42 billion in income availed before. The GEF is there- external debt burdens also need
per year. fore one of major sources of to be promoted. Over and above
funding. these commitments, any Party
What are the major sources of can voluntarily provide financial
funding? What financial commitments do resources to affected developing
the Parties make? countries.
The largest source of funds is
the affected countries Affected developing counties are How will the flow of funding
themselves. The largest expected to allocate adequate from donors to affected
external source for Africa is resources to the effective countries be coordinated in
bilateral official development implementation of the order to ensure maximum
assistance provided on grant or Convention, given their effectiveness?
concessional terms. Multilateral circumstances and capabilities.
bank loans made on a Developed countries are to At its first session in October
commercial basis are the major provide “substantial financial 1997, the Conference of the
external source of funds for resources and other forms of Parties identified IFAD as the
Latin America and Asia. Foreign support”, including grants and Host Institution of the GlobalPhoto © Kushal Gangopadhyay
Mechanism; its role is to integrated “bottom-up” package is fully integrated into
promote actions leading to the approach involving the full their overall national
mobilization and the channelling participation of local development programme.
of substantial resources to communities. The Regional
affected developing countries, Implementation Annex for Africa Relevant parts of the
including the transfer of states that recipient Convention
technology. With the new GEF governments establishes policies
focal area, the role of the and procedures for channelling Articles 5, 6, 13, 20 and 21, plus
Global Mechanism has been resources more effectively to Regional Implementation
further strengthened as a groups at the local level. They Annexes for Africa (Article 15),
financial broker, particularly enable non-governmental Latin America and the Caribbean
regarding the co-funding organizations to assume an (Article 6), Asia (Article 7), and
resources required for GEF unprecedented role in ensuring Central and Eastern Europe
intervention. that local communities obtain (Article 7)
the external resources they
How will funding be channeled need to carry out their own
to the projects and activities programmes. Governments also
where it is most needed? provide a macroeconomic
framework conducive to
The Convention encourages the mobilizing financial resources
allocation of funds using an and ensure that the financial
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 9
Institutions and procedures of the Convention
The Convention to Combat acceded to the Convention The COP was established by the
Desertification was negotiated become Parties and are legally Convention as the supreme
under the auspices of the responsible for carrying out their decision-making body; it
United Nations treaty commitments 90 days comprises ratifying governments
after having deposited their and regional economic
In June 1992, the United Nations instrument of ratification, integration organizations, such
Conference on Environment and acceptance, approval or as the European Union. Up to
Development (UNCED), also accession. the year 2008, the COP had held
known as the Rio Earth Summit, eight sessions; it has been
recommended that the United While only national meeting biennially since 2001.
Nations General Assembly governments which One of the main functions of the
establish an Intergovernmental ratify/accede to the Convention COP is to review reports
Negotiating Committee for a can become Parties to the submitted by the Parties
Convention to Combat UNCCD, other bodies and detailing how they are carrying
Desertification in Countries organizations can also out their commitments. The COP
Experiencing Serious Drought participate in the Conference then makes recommendations on
and/or Desertification (INCD) in of the Parties (COP) as observers the basis of these reports. It also
order to prepare a convention to has the power to make
combat desertification in those International conventions are amendments to the Convention
countries experiencing serious legal agreements among or to adopt new annexes, such
drought and/or desertification, sovereign countries. However, as additional regional
particularly in Africa. The this Convention makes special implementation annexes. In this
Committee held five preparatory provision for national and way, the COP can guide the
sessions before adopting the international agencies and Convention as global
Convention on 17 June 1994 in qualified NGOs to attend the circumstances and national
Paris. meetings of the COP and to needs change. To assist the COP,
contribute to its work. NGOs the Convention provides for
The Convention entered into have not only played a prominent subsidiary bodies and allows the
force on 26 December 1996, 90 role in the Convention process, COP to establish additional ones
days after it had been ratified but they continue to raise public if necessary.
by 50 countries awareness and to lobby
parliamentarians for effective The Committee on Science and
As of March 2008, there are 193 implementation of the Convention. Technology (CST) advises the
Parties to the Convention. After a Such international and regional COP on scientific and technolo-
government’s representatives organizations provide crucial gical matters
have signed the Convention, the information, expertise, contacts,
designated legislative body and research and managerial The CST is a subsidiary body of
ratifies. The government then capabilities. the COP and provides it with
sends its instrument of ratifica- information and advice on
tion to the United Nations The Conference of the Parties scientific and technological
in New York, which acts as the periodically reviews the matters relating to combating
Depository. Countries which have implementation of the desertification and mitigating the
ratified, accepted, approved or Convention effects of drought using the mostPhoto © UNCCD secretariat
up-to-date scientific knowledge. regional and regional levels, will advice on, for example, organizing
The CST is multi-disciplinary, allow it to draw conclusions and their national consultation
open to the participation of the to propose to the COP concrete processes.
Parties and composed of recommendations on further steps
government representatives with in the implementation of the Global Mechanism (GM) helps
relevant expertise. It reports Convention. The review is to be the COP to promote funding for
regularly to the COP on its work, conducted along thematic lines Convention-related activities
including at each of the sessions decided by the COP, with due and programmes
of the COP. The bureau of the regard to geographic dimensions.
CST is responsible for follow-up of The mandate and functions of the This mechanism was not conceived
the work of the Convention CRIC, as well as its schedule of to raise or administer funds.
between COP sessions. meetings, are subject to renewal Instead, the GM encourages and
at COP 9 where the new Terms of assists donors, recipients,
The Committee for the Review Reference of the CRIC is expected development banks, NGOs, and
of the Implementation of the in light of the 10-year strategic others to mobilize funds and to
Convention (CRIC) assists the plan and framework to enhance channel them to where they are
COP in regularly reviewing the the implementation of the most needed. It seeks to promote
implementation of the Convention (2008-2018), adopted greater coordination among
Convention at COP 8. existing sources of funding, and
greater efficiency and
An official procedure for The COP is supported by a effectiveness in the use of funds.
reviewing progress made in the secretariat The GM is under the authority of
implementation of the Convention the COP, which periodically
was first decided upon at COP 5. As do other conventions’ secre- reviews its policies, operational
Parties agreed to establish a tariats, the UNCCD secretariat modalities and activities.
subsidiary body tasked to consider provides services to the COP by Furthermore, by decision
reports from country Parties and arranging its meetings, preparing 3/COP.8, the secretariat was
observers, as well as information documents, coordinating with requested to prepare a draft
and advice from the CST and the other relevant bodies, compiling joint work programme (JWP)
Global Mechanism, and to report and transmitting information, with the GM, which would assist
to the COP on ways and means to and facilitating consultations and the two entities to ensure consis-
enhance the implementation of other actions. It also, on request, tency and complementarity in
the Convention at national, sub- provides assistance to affected the delivery of services, and to
regional and regional levels. The developing countries, in the strengthen their coordination and
CRIC holds its yearly sessions compilation and communication cooperation. The GM is hosted by
during and between the ordinary of information required under the the International Fund for Agri-
sessions of the COP. The review Convention. Affected developing cultural Development (IFAD) in
process leading to the CRIC, countries can also rely on the Rome, Italy.
which includes input at sub- secretariat for information or
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationFact sheet 10
Desertification, global change and
sustainable development
The Convention to Combat most important food crops, such leading source of land-based
Desertification cannot be as barley and sorghum, are pollution for the oceans, as
viewed in isolation from other originated in drylands. Though polluted sediment and water
efforts to promote sustainable disappearing fast, indigenous washes down major rivers.
development varieties remain a vital resource
for plant breeders because of Natural climate variations can
The Convention text refers their resistance to stresses such strongly affect drought patterns
frequently to sustainable as disease. Dryland species also
development, climate change, provide drugs, resins, waxes, Currently the best understood
biological diversity, water oils, and other commercial link between global climate
resources, energy sources, food products. For example, drylands variability and drought involves
security, and socio-economic supply one third of the plant- sea-surface temperature patterns
factors. The interactions derived drugs in the US. Finally, Research into such climate
between these issues and drylands provide critical habitats patterns is starting to improve
desertification are often not for wildlife, including large seasonal rainfall predictions.
fully understood, but they are mammals and migratory birds. Efforts to strengthen predictions
clearly important. The These habitats are particularly are an important part of national
Convention therefore vulnerable to land degradation. action programmes to combat
emphasizes the need to desertification and will help
coordinate desertificationrelated Land degradation affects the dryland farmers and herders to
activities with the quantity and quality of fresh- prepare better for droughts.
research efforts and response water supplies Desertification also impacts
strategies inspired by these upon the climate, with land
other concerns. Drought and desertification are degradation and related loss of
associated with lower water lev- vegetation leading to increased
Efforts to combat els in rivers, lakes, and aquifers. emissions and reduced carbon
desertification complement For example, unsustainable irri- sink. Restoration of dryland
efforts to protect biological gation practices can dry the conditions could therefore have
diversity rivers that feed large lakes; the a major impact on global climate
Aral Sea and Lake Chad have patterns.
While many people tend to both seen their shorelines shrink
identify the issue of biodiversity dramatically in this way. Water Climate change and
with tropical rain forests, crises are raising political ten- desertification
dryland ecosystems also contain sions in many parts of the world,
a rich biota, including plant and particularly where rivers and Climate change is a major
animal species not found lakes are shared across borders. contributing factor to
elsewhere. Many of humanity’s Land degradation is also a desertification. An increase inPhoto © Tongjing Lu
weather extremes such as sun’s rays or reflecting them from the land and who are
droughts and heavy rains as a back out into space, they may suffering most from the double
result of global warming will help to cool the Earth’s surface. blow of desertification and
lead to further land However, the energy they absorb climate change.
degradation. This in turn will can heat the lower atmosphere
exacerbate the ongoing and in this way reduce Desertification exacerbates
problems of poverty, forced temperature differences poverty and political instability
migration and conflicts. While between the atmosphere’s
desertification is already vertical layers; this can lead to It contributes significantly to
responsible for significant fewer rain-showers and thus drier water scarcity, food crisis, and
forced migration, more than a land. Finally, the periodic internal displacement of people,
billion people – one in seven of burning of arid and semi-arid mass migration, and social
the current world population - grasslands, often associated with breakdown. This is a recipe for
could be forced from their unsustainable slash-and-burn political instability, for tensions
homes between now and 2050 if agriculture, emits greenhouse between neighboring countries,
climate change worsens. gases. So does the unsustainable and even for armed conflict.
use of fuel-wood and charcoal, a Evidence is mounting that there
Desertification may major cause of land degradation. is often a strong correlation
temporarily affect climate On the other hand, reforestation between civil strife and conflict
change is likely to have a cooling effect on the one hand and
and is also, of course, an environmental factors such as
Land degradation tends to important way to combat land desertification on the other.
reduce surface moisture. degradation.
Because less water is available
for the sun’s energy to A common approach to tackling
evaporate, more energy is left desertification and climate
over for warming the ground change will have multiple
and, as a result, the lower advantages
atmosphere. Meanwhile, wind
erosion in drylands releases dust It particularly benefits the poor
and other particulates into the in the world’s drylands who
atmosphere. By absorbing the struggle to secure a livelihood
United Nations
Convention to Combat DesertificationYou can also read
