What's being done - desertification remedies

UN Chronicle, Summer, 1997

Africa:

Algeria has carried out research on desertification trends using satellite imagery, has held a national awareness workshop and plans to develop Government/non-government organization (NGO) partnerships.

Botswana's National Action Programme will culminate in a national forum process to discuss arrangements for its implementation.

Denmark and Burkina Faso have undertaken a joint Burkinabe Sahel project to promote grass-roots development in support of food security and environmental restoration at the local level. Burundi has coordinated the implementation of the conventions on biodiversity, climate change and desertification into a national strategy. Cameroon's national activities include the organization of national awareness days and the drafting of a national environment plan.

In Egypt, projects related to the Convention, including better water harvesting and irrigation techniques, are planned to increase its inhabited area from 5 to 25 per cent.

Ethiopia's activities include a national workshop on awareness creation, a review of policies and strategies by the Environmental Protection Authority and a student campaign to plant millions of trees.

Mali is establishing a National Desertification Fund. Mauritania brought together 15 African local points in a workshop to exchange lessons learned. Niger's activities include holding workshops, establishing regional structures and an environmental fund and the adoption of a national plan on the environment Togo has launched a national information programme.

Morocco is setting up a National Action Programme and partnerships between the State and groups of villages. The Gambia has conducted public awareness campaigns, and revised national forest policy to enable community forest management. Ghana has established a national committee on desertification and held sensitization workshops and awareness seminars.

Senegal has created a National Environmental Fund, a desertification information system on the Internet and an advisory think-tank to monitor progress. Kenya is preparing a National Action Programme and establishing a National Desertification Fund. South Africa is creating a capacity to plan and monitor its National Action Programme. Uganda is carrying out activities to raise awareness and developing its National Desertification Fund. Zambia has reported a public awareness programme and a Forests Action Programme.

Latin America and the Caribbean:

Argentina organized the first conference for combating desertification in Latin America, and its national activities include bringing together NGOs involved with desertification and developing an advisory group in the area of science and technology.

Bolivia has established a National Action Programme and organized awareness campaigns.

Brazil is elaborating a National Plan to Combat Desertification and establishing a National Network on Desertification, and is active in fostering technical cooperation with other affected countries.

Haiti has taken a comprehensive approach to sustainable development, after ratifying the biodiversity, climate change and desertification conventions, and is cooperating with Mexico, Cuba, Argentina and the Dominican Republic.

Mexico's national efforts include the adoption of a new environmental law, the drafting of a forest law and a technical assistance agreement.

Asia:

China is reviewing its projects to combat desertification.

Israel is involved in the development of orchards that will be irrigated by treated waste water, the organization of an expert meeting on synergies in implementing the conventions on biodiversity, climate change and desertification and the Rio Forest Principles, and an international school for desert studies.

Kazakstan is carrying out national preparatory activities to combat desertification.

Syria's national activities include a greenbelt and an afforestation project.

Northern Mediterranean:

A meeting will be held in 1997 on benchmarks and indicators. It will be attended by France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey. Spain is preparing a National Action Programme.