Visit the Secretariat of
the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

Visit the First Session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC1)

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Delegates met in morning and afternoon sessions, to continue the thematic review, with case study presentations from Africa, Northern Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European Regions and other Affected Country Parties, and Asian.

Ryszard Debicki (Poland) said that in relation to land degradation, Poland is impacted by catastrophic droughts and floods, water scarcity and poor water quality, soil loss, and land degradation. He called for adequate, reliable and competent responses to CCD implementation and suggested further activities to integrate land degradation measures into NSSDs.

Avertano Role (Malta) said that the development of an integrated Coastal Area Management Programme (CAMP), involving national institutions and international partners such as UNEP, has secured funds for the realization of a key pilot project focusing on integrated water resource management and desertification control in Malta. Highlighting the pilot project's successes, he stressed the need for additional funds to establish baseline data, to apply experiences gained from the pilot project in other parts of Malta, and to carry out joint projects with other small island States.

Salif Kanouté (Mali) noted the strengths of Mali's programmes including: the consistent support of a lead donor state; a permanent institutional framework; effective coordination; and the participation of civil society. He highlighted weaknesses in the process including: unstable government structures; insufficient financial resources; difficulties harmonizing work among different actors; inadequate high-level political support; and difficulties providing access to information in impoverished areas.

Mohamed Ismail (Tunisia) commenced his country's case study by reviewing the degree of desertification in Tunisia, the national funds that have been established to combat desertification, and the results of partnerships between national and international partners to address land degradation. He concluded that: the NAP is a unifying framework for environment programmes and the CCD; that on-going consultation with development partners is crucial; and consistent and substantial support is needed to facilitate the implementation of the CCD at the national, subregional and regional levels.

Stephen Muwaya (Uganda) outlined efforts to mobilize resources for the NAP, including: involvement of the Ministry of Finance; increasing budget allocations to environment and natural resource management; establishing a plan for resource mobilization; mainstreaming NAP issues into national development frameworks; promoting synergies with related environmental conventions and increasing their integration into national planning processes; and the initiation of a dialogue on a partnership framework for implementation of the NAP.

Pham Minh Thoa (Vietnam) highlighted the role of forestry in combating desertification. She identified several challenges for forest management, including: increasing the involvement of local stakeholders; augmenting financial resources; improving coordination among projects; and expanding operational policy frameworks.

Matt McIntyre (South Pacific Regional Environment Programme) highlighted the region's main causes for land degradation and stressed the need for harmonized legislation, increased funding, and enhanced information, coordination and cooperation with the CCD Secretariat.

David Fong Sooialo (Samoa) said human factors (deforestation and settlements on arable land) and natural factors (El Nino cycles and tropical cyclones) are exacerbating the causes land degradation in the South Pacific.

Identifying obstacles to sustainable land management, Inoke Ratukalou (Fiji) suggested agro-forestry, slope farming, watershed management and geographical information systems analysis as important means to combat desertification.

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