Key Issues and Information Resources

Sustainable
Agri-Food Production
and Consumption
Forum

	Introduction
	Agri-food Production and Bio-diversity
	Water Use and Water Pollution
	Energy
	Climate Change
	Food Safety and Biotechnology
	Use of Chemicals
	Desertification
	Trade and Environment
	Consumption
	Make a link to your web site

KEY ISSUES AND INFORMATION SOURCES -
Desertification

Desertification is defined as the degradation of drylands. It involves the loss of biological or economic productivity and complexity in croplands, pastures, and woodlands. Desertification is due mainly to climate variability and unsustainable human activities. The most commonly cited forms of unsustainable land use are over-cultivation, overgrazing, deforestation, and poor irrigation practices. Seventy percent of the world's drylands (excluding hyper-arid deserts), equivalent to 3,600 million hectares, are degraded. While drought is often associated with land degradation, it is a natural phenomenon that occurs when rainfall is significantly below normal recorded levels for a long time.

The production of crops can have direct impacts on land that may lead to desertification. These impacts need to be more carefully analysed and managed so that the land that crop production relies on is better protected.

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Information resources provided by various stakeholders:

UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT FOR CONVENTION ON COMBAT DESERTIFICATION

was established by the United Nations General Assembly to assist the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in the negotiation of the Convention and preparing for the first session of the Conference of the Parties. To find out information about the convention, conferences of parties and official documents, please visit:

Organisation web site: http://www.unccd.de/.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.unccd.de/ - To understand the cause of desertification, the consequences of it, the content of the convention and actions taken by different stakeholders at international, national and local levels, please click "Public Information" on the left side bar of the website.

The INTERNATIONAL SOIL REFERENCE AND INFORMATION CENTRE

includes the former International Soil Museum, a UNESCO-IUSS initiative. On this web site you can find information on its main activities, such as developing Soil and Terrain Information Systems, assessment of Soil and Terrain Resources for Sustainable Utilisation of the Land, Strengthening the Capacities of Soil Institutions in Developing Countries and Enhancement of Accessibility of Soil and Terrain Information.

Organisation web site: http://www.isric.nl/.

The GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE STATUS OF HUMAN-INDUCED SOIL DEGRADATION (GLASOD)

is a world-wide programme based on the co-operation a large number of soil scientists to produce, a scientifically credible global assessment of the status of human-induced soil degradation. GLASOD aims to strengthen the awareness of decision-makers on the risks resulting from inappropriate land and soil management necessary for global well being. In particular, on its web site you can find regional soil degradation status map used to produce a World Atlas of Desertification. This was developed along with the national capability of soil research institutions to provide accurate, up-to-date geo-referenced soil and terrain information, to develop the SOTER database which is a more qualitative measure. The SOTER Water Erosion Assessment Programme (SWEAP), a computer programme to run the universal soil loss equation and the soil loss estimation model for Southern Africa with data from the SOTER database, is at present in its testing phase.

Organisation web site: http://lime.isric.nl/index.cfm?contentid=158.

NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve the natural resources and environment. NRCS puts nearly 70 years of experience to work in assisting owners of America's private land with conserving their soil, water, and other natural resources. Local, state and federal agencies and policymakers also rely on their expertise. They deliver technical assistance based on sound science and suited to a customer's specific needs. Cost shares and financial incentives are available in some cases. Most work is done with local partners. Their partnership with local conservation districts serves almost every county in the nation, and the Caribbean and Pacific Basin. Participation in programs is voluntary. There are programs on Agronomy, Wind and Water Erosion, soils, Cultural Ressources.

Organisation web site: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

DESERTIFICATION INFORMATION NETWORK

aims to provide data and information services on the subject of desertification, particularly in Africa and the Mediterranean basin. This project has been assisted in its development on the Internet by the Centre For Earth Observation (CEO) programme of the European Union. Its site provides news, information on organisation, projects involved in desertification and biodiversity in the desert regions.

Organisation web site: http://www.wcmc.org.uk/dynamic/desert/.

UNITED NATIONS FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION

Food Agriculture organization strategy and action programme aimed at combating desertification. The FAO Web site on desertification aims to assist national, regional and international stakeholders and networks involved in sustainable development of drylands and in particular in the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The Web site contains technical and scientific data and information, available at FAO, as well as links to a number of highly informative Web sites on desertification. The information provided in this site represents a significant share of the FAO knowledge and expertise on sustainable development and drylands management.

Organisation web site: http://www.fao.org/desertification/default.asp?lang=en.

Specific pages of interest:

http://www.fao.org/desertification/html/COP3pap4.htm - Report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for the third conference of parties of the convention to combat Desertification.

The INTERNATIONAL ARID LANDS CONSORTIUM

is a research NGO that aims to enable people of arid lands who suffer from famine, overpopulation, disease, pollution, degradation, and depletion of natural resources, to improve their quality of life. The aim of the site is to influence policy makers, disseminate research results and to facilitate communication between researchers/projects. It includes information on IALC member institutions; copies of newsletter and links to other sites of interest. The site also includes pages from the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN).

Organisation web site: http://www.ag.arizona.edu/OALS/IALC/Home.html.

� 2000 - United Nations Environment Programme