NEW RESOURCES, ENHANCED COMMITMENTS TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION CALLED FOR IN BONN, AS PARTIES TO DESERTIFICATION CONVENTION CONCLUDE FOURTH SESSION
ENV/DEV/558
28 December 2000
NEW RESOURCES, ENHANCED COMMITMENTS TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION CALLED FOR IN BONN,
AS PARTIES TO DESERTIFICATION CONVENTION CONCLUDE FOURTH SESSION
(Reissued as received.)
BONN, 22 December (UNCCD) -- A request to explore the best options for enhancing the support of the Global Environment Facility in assisting countries affected by desertification, especially in Africa, to implement the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was launched tonight as the Conference of the Parties to the Convention concluded its two-week fourth session in Bonn, Germany.
Echoing the messages delivered at the Conference, in particular by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, heads of State, ministers and delegates highlighted the need to support the fund and the decision already taken by its Council to increase support for countries affected by desertification and drought.
The request also reflects the result of a key phase of the Conference: the review of reports presented by the parties. During the session, delegates had the possibility to review already 34 of the over 150 reports submitted between 1999 and 2000. Countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Northern Mediterranean that have already adopted a National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, illustrated initiatives undertaken, successes accomplished and problems encountered. Subregional and regional institutions also presented their respective reports.
Affected countries put emphasis on the need for predictable financial support, enhanced South-South cooperation, and the possibility of opening access to Global Environment Facility funds to support programmes to combat desertification. Delegates will meet again in spring 2001, before the next session of the Conference (September 2001), to continue the review of reports.
"The review of reports represents a most important accomplishment of this Conference", said Hama Arba Diallo, Executive Secretary of the Convention, "as reports reflect the enormous efforts made by affected countries to combat desertification".
"We were hoping however to see more commitment from the international community", he continued. "We have heard many positive statements, I believe that we have seen the expression of political good will, but we are now looking forward to seeing good will translate into concrete action."
Delegates approved a declaration of commitments to enhance special efforts to combat and prevent desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought
between 2001 to 2010, in order to address the severe situation prevailing in various affected developing country parties, particularly in Africa. They expressed concern that, despite important efforts made by all interested partners, adequate financial and other resources have not yet been mobilized, thus constraining the ability of affected developing countries to fulfil their commitments under the Convention.
They urged all actors to take a set of proactive financial measures, and indicated strategic areas for action at all levels, including, among others, development of new and renewable energy sources; sustainable land use management, including water, soil and vegetation; sustainable use and management of rangelands; development of sustainable agricultural and ranching production systems; launching of reforestation/afforestation programmes and intensification of soil conservation programmes; development of early warning systems for food security and drought forecasting.
The Declaration reaffirms the invitation to parties to take action to improve and facilitate further access of affected developing countries to the Global Environment Facility resources for the implementation of the Convention.
Finally, delegates also adopted an additional "implementation annex" to the Convention for country parties of Central and Eastern Europe, in addition to those already existing for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Northern Mediterranean.
They declared that new and specific attention should be devoted to countries of Central and Eastern Europe affected by desertification and drought, in consideration of their particular conditions which include, among others, problems and challenges related to the process of economic transition; the variety of forms of land degradation; the crisis condition of agriculture; the unsustainable exploitation of water resources; forest coverage losses; and the risk of growing economic hardship and deteriorating social conditions in areas affected by land degradation, desertification and drought. The Annex contains provisions for the preparation of action programmes, technical and scientific cooperation and financial resources.
"The time to act is now", said Mr. Diallo. "People worldwide have been losing their arable land, their sources of income. Action is possible, and the necessary steps have been identified. But, the more we wait, the more opportunities we lose, and there is no reason why we should lose them."
"This Conference has made steps forward, although small", he continued. "Most affected countries have shown that they are ready to start. We expect now partners to move forward and accompany them in this process."
"The Convention has grown up", concluded Mr. Diallo. "We have received expressions of political support. We are on the right track. But the time has come to move forward and start concrete action."
Drought and desertification seriously threaten the livelihoods of over
1.2 billion people worldwide who depend on the land for most of their needs. They undermine the land productivity, and the populations' wealth and health in over 110 countries.
The Convention stresses the global dimension of desertification. It calls for increased efforts towards the implementation of national, subregional and regional action programmes to combat desertification, and the promotion of sustainable development particularly in the dry lands of our planet. It further calls for the full involvement of civil society in this process.
The Convention is a legally binding instrument resulting from the Rio Conference on Environment and Development (1992). It entered into force in 1996 and 172 countries are currently parties to it.
For more information, please contact Rajeb Boulharouf at fax (49-228) 8152899, e-mail rboulharouf@unccd.int, or Sonia Filippazzi, e-mail sfilippazzi@unccd.int. Further information on the Convention and the Conference is also available via the Internet at www.unccd.int.
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