Skip to content

Politics

Desert Degradation

by Dave Armstrong 21 Oct 2011
Desert Degradation

Crescent Lake at "Mingsha Shan" (the Singing Sand Mountain-Dunes) one of the lucky survivors ( for thousands of years, so far) of the Chinese sand seas via Shutterstock

We have all heard of Saharan and Arabian desertification. Now, after the Rio Earth Summit initiative in 1992, we have the Changwon Initiative from CST10 in South Korea. When UNCCD was established in 1994, 194 signatories verified it as the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment, development and the promotion of healthy soils. Now we are finally reaching overall action on the three greatest challenges to sustainable development with the fight against land degradation. (The other two are climate change and loss of biodiversity). CST10 (Committee on Science and Technology) is a subsidiary of UNCCD.

Even in Europe, many can see the deleterious effect of dunes on forest

Even in Europe, many can see the deleterious effect of dunes on forest (Above in Poland) via Shutterstock

Impact indicators have now been developed to look at trends in land degradation. Incredibly, in ten years, we lose an area of land equivalent in size to South Africa because of degradation. With a 70% increase in food production needed to feed the 2050 population of nine billion, we cannot afford to lose whole "countries" for agriculture. Combating this, we now have these two impact indicators that are mandatory from 2012. (The other seven indicators will be reported too and become compulsory in time.)

Land Cover Status and Proportion of Population above the Poverty Line

Scientific understanding and measurement of the processes causing land to degrade are the prime needs. The nine indicators use "tools" and methodologies that have been tested in eleven pilot countries. Professor Barron Orr of the University of Arizona's Office of Arid Land Studies said, "The pilotcountries tested a large set of metrics in an active way over a three month period and the big finding there is that they could do it, even though it was challenging, and there were capacity issues."

The Changwon Initiative extends the COP8 in Madrid in 2007 by initiating target setting Mr. Luc Gnacadja, the UNCCD Executive Secretary, seen below with Dr. Walter Ammann, President of the Global Risk Forum, GRF-Davos stated that the world must become "land degradation neutral" as soon as possible. The date set for this will be interesting!

Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, UNCCD, and Dr. Walter Ammann, President of the Global Risk Forum, GRF-Davos, sign a memorandum of understanding on the organization of the 2nd UNCCD Scientific Conference to be held in 2012, under the theme, Economic <a href=assessment of desertification, sustainable land management and resilience of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid area">

Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, UNCCD, and Dr. Walter Ammann, President of the Global Risk Forum, GRF-Davos, sign a memorandum of understanding on the organization of the 2nd UNCCD Scientific Conference to be held in 2012, under the theme, 'Economic assessment of desertification, sustainable land management and resilience of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid area'; Credit: UNCCD

Elsewhere, scientific institutions and educational opportunities are to be quickly established: "Now that the proposal is accepted by UNCCD Parties, watch out for a seismic shift in opportunities to access education and training in land management towards the affected regions," said Richard Thomas, Assistant Director (Drylands), United Nations University, Institute for Water, Environment and Health. People in developing countries affected take note.

NB. Drylands are home to some 2 billion people in nearly 100 countries. I make the figure two ninths of that world population.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping