ENB:04:11
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2. Definitions: While most delegates agreed that
the definition of desertification used in Chapter 12 of Agenda 21
should be the point of departure, there was a multitude of
opinions about whether or not this definition should be expanded.
Canada, Mali, Ghana and Tunisia all advocated starting with the
definition in Agenda 21. Gambia stated that the definition of
desertification in Agenda 21 is not sacrosanct and could be
revisited. Benin and Sudan said that the definition in Agenda 21
should be expanded to include the economic and social causes of
desertification. France said the definition provided for in
Agenda 21 should suffice, but that social and economic aspects
should take precedence over climatic issues. The Netherlands said
that the definition needs to include population growth and
migration and Poland stated that the definition should be
reviewed to include land degradation. Malaysia and Brazil warned
that the definitions used in the Convention should not include
forests, unless they are located in drylands. Finally, Egypt said
that the INCD should not spend its time defining desertification,
rather it should define how to combat desertification.