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Water Library - Desertification and Drought Desertification is not the natural expansion of existing deserts but the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. It is a gradual process of soil productivity loss and the thinning out of the vegetative cover because of human activities and climatic variations. Desertification already affects one quarter of the total land surface of the globe today. Over the past 20 years, the surface area lost is equal to all of the farmland of the United States of America. Roughly one third of the world’s land surface is threatened by desertification. Estimates are that in 2025 the decline of arable land available will be two-thirds in Africa, one-third in Asia, and about one-fifth in South America. The livelihoods of one billion people are threatened and many of them are at risk of being displaced. |
Topic ID: 5071 |
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| For more visit the Facts and Figures sheet on Desertification.
Click here to return to the list of themes or to the list of regions. |
| Educational kits |
 Learning to combat desertification .PDF Source MAB website This educational kit on desertification is principally targeted to teachers of primary school education and their pupils, aged 10-12 years old. Its positive approach demonstrates that desertification is not inevitable and that everyone, at his or her own level, has a role to play in Earth's future. It includes a teacher's guide, a set of case studies, two cartoons and a wall poster. Language(s) English, French, Spanish Contact MAB programme |
| Websites |
 CRID: Information Resources on Water and DisastersA CD online produced conjointly by three organization working on water and disasters in the Americas. It contains the full text of selected documents on topics as diverse as water quality, disaster prevention in water systems, the impact of floods and drought, and more. Language(s) Spanish |
| FAO website on Desertification This website contains technical and scientific data and information, available at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as links to a number of highly informative resources on desertification. Language(s) Arabic, English, French, Spanish |
| Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertication (UNCCD) The UNCCD was created in 1992 after the Rio Earth Summit, to address the problem of desertification. 186 countries have ratified the Convention. Language(s) English, French, Spanish |
| UNDP Drylands Web This website, maintained by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provides a quick overview on drylands development issues, the history of the newly created Dryland Development Centre, concepts and programme information, newsletters, lessons learned and practices, knowledge sharing and news and events. Language(s) English |
| UNEP Programme on Success Stories in Land Degradation/Desertification Control This website presents projects and community-based initiatives which have successfully addressed the problems of land degradation and desertification. Compiled by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Language(s) English |
| World Bank - Desertification An overview of the topic, as well as links to 'good practice' in drylands management. Language(s) English |
| Publications |
| | Media Brief for the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought |
| | Agenda 21, Chapter 12 Managing fragile ecosystems: combating desertification and drought |
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International Year of Freshwater 2003
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