Rethinking Policies to Cope with Desertification
Launch of a UNU-INWEH Policy Brief
Organized by the United Nations University Office, at the UN in New York (UNU-ONY), in cooperation with the United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
Desertification has emerged as an environmental crisis of global proportions, currently affecting an estimated 100 to 200 million people, and threatening the lives and livelihoods of a much large number. Recent evaluations clearly demonstrate that there are no signs that desertification trends are abating on a global scale.
UNU has a mission to bridge the divide between the research and policy-making communities in order to address pressing global challenges such as desertification. And this is indeed the challenge of today: How can we pull all strands of this human, social and economic development together in a way that we arrive at success for the people most threatened by desertification? We have at our disposal today immense human, technological, institutional and even financial resources to overcome this challenge. What we need is a coherent, cohesive and integrated policy approach.
A brief report summarizing the wealth of experience and expertise has been launched on June 28th. The recommendations that are presented in this publication were developed by a group of eminent experts and are intended to lead the way forward towards improved policy formulation for combating desertification. This report is an outcome of the Joint International Conference: “Desertification and the International Policy Imperative”, Algiers, Algeria, 17-19 December, 2006. Partners in this interagency initiative include GEF, UNESCO, FAO, UNDP, UNEP, ICARDA, OSS, ICRISAT, UNCCD and UNU. The initiative was supported by the Canadian International Development Department, Flemish Government of Belgium, Iceland Soil Conservation Service, GEF and the Government of Algeria.
Presentations included:
Introductory Remarks by:
- Peter J. Marcotullio, Adjunct Senior Fellow, United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS)
- Zafar Adeel, Director, United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
- Mohamed Sofiane Berrah, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Algeria to the United Nations
Panel I:
“Overview of Desertification Policy Discussions”
- “Re-thinking Policies for Combating Desertification: Expert Recommendations”, by Zafar Adeel, Director, UNU-INWEH
- “Opportunities for Knowledge Exchange on Desertification Policy”, by Caroline King, Project Officer, UNU-INWEH
Panel II:
“Building on the Recommendations for Improved Policy Learning”
- “Environmental and Social Knowledge for Desertification Policy-making”, by Fernando Santibañez, Director of AGRIMED, Agriculture and Environment Center, University of Chile and Member of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Group of Experts (UNCCD GoE)
- “The European Commission Contribution to the Fight against Desertification”, by Tim Dolan, Delegation of the European Commission to the United Nations
