Seventh Rio Conventions Pavilion (RCP)
“Shaping Our Future: Rio+20 Outcome Follow-Up and Moving Towards the Post-2015 Development Agenda”

Thursday morning at the Rio Conventions Pavilion opened with a panel sharing experiences in audiovisual tools and training methods for farmers on SLM principles and technologies, and participatory collaboration between farmers and scientists.

One speaker presented work on enhancing existing knowledge on SLM with video and new media tools for knowledge sharing. He explained that, in all videos produced by the network, land users share personal experiences on technologies, including: implementation and practice; local and regional impacts; and adaptability to climatic changes.

Two videos shown to participants demonstrated climate-smart agricultural practices in Tajikistan, and principles for improving land productivity and protecting the environment, which include: reducing evaporation and soil erosion; harvesting water; conserving soil fertility; and maintaining microclimates. On building up knowledge, the speaker said that the network is working on instructional manuals for standardized videos, and called for intensification of extension services and involvement of local governments.

A speaker from Iran discussed experiences in evolutionary plant breeding, which uses high genetic diversity in crops to increase resilience to climatic variability. A video on participatory research and breeding explained how the method has been successfully implemented in several regions in Iran, resulting in increased crop resilience, biodiversity and sustained incomes.

Panelists concluded that farmers are great decision makers but need options and access to technologies, and that off-site benefits of small-scale farming need to be better communicated to the policy level.

On Thursday afternoon, this panel gave an overview of the SLM Strategic Investment Framework provided by a panelist from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and presented country experiences from Niger, Ghana and Ethiopia in the implementation of the framework.

The representative from the FAO noted the need to continue work, as famine and hunger remain challenges despite hard work since the 1970s. He highlighted the sectoral approach of the framework and noted three types of obstacles: nature; technology; and distribution of knowhow. He called for developing a common vision on grassroots investments.

A speaker highlighted that a detailed SLM programme has been implemented since 2005 in Niger. He said that the strategic investment plan aims to ensure SLM through land rehabilitation. He noted that investment is directed towards local levels to ensure the sustainability of agriculture. He stressed the importance of increasing partner investments, as the need for funding is growing.

A panelist highlighted the GEF-funded project supporting SLM in northern Ghana. He described progress, including development of a GIS-based monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system, a sustainable land and water management (SLWM) technology manual and draft environmental indices, among others.

Another speaker discussed Ethiopia’s national SLM programme, noting that phase one, which included interventions in 35 watersheds, is ending and that the process of finalizing development partner investments to scale up the programme in phase two is underway.

The final session on Thursday explored how nuclear science is contributing to evidence-based soil and water conservation.

A speaker from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) described the agency’s technical cooperation (TC) programme and the Practical Agreement with the UNCCD, signed in April 2013. She said that TC’s work in agricultural water and soil management focuses on capacity development and research support, and encompasses all regions, with nearly 60 ongoing projects. On the benefits of the IAEA-UNCCD partnership, she mentioned evidence-based soil and land management studies, input into UNCCD National Action Programmes (NAPs), and cooperation among UNCCD NFPs and IAEA counterparts. She described initial thoughts on a science-policy interface that could support national development planning through IAEA’s programmes, departments and laboratories.

The panel included two videos showing the application of nuclear and isotopic techniques to develop water-efficient cropping systems, including drip irrigation, to ensure food security in 19 African countries. A scientist explained how isotope techniques are used in Kenya for assessing water and nitrogen use efficiency in maize intercropping systems for functional rainwater harvesting and nutrient management options.