Highlights for Thursday, 26 February 2009
On the fourth day of the Intersessional Preparatory Meeting (IPM) for the 17th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-17), participants discussed desertification during the morning, and addressed the issue of Africa during the afternoon.
During the discussion on desertification, panelist Alemneh Dejene, FAO, emphasized, among the options, combining organic and non-organic land inputs, maximizing synergy between agriculture and land management and increasing national investment and international cooperation. He also said the post-2012 climate regime should incorporate the role of soils in sequestering carbon. Panelist Melchiade Bukuru, UNCCD, highlighted the global benefits of combating desertification, and proposed options that include prioritizing the issue at all levels and mainstreaming it in national development, financial, climate change, biodiversity, water and poverty programmes.
During the discussion of Africa, panelist Kobie Brand, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Africa Secretariat, highlighted the need for coordinated policies and planning for implementation at the local level. She also emphasized the role of education in building leadership. Panelist Kaddu Sebunya, African Wildlife Foundation, underscored the importance of policies on large-scale conservation and the need to strengthen local incentives for the coexistence of people and wildlife.