Curtain raiser

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INCD

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the elaboration ofan international convention to combat desertification in thosecountries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification,particularly in Africa (INCD) meets for its second session inGeneva from 13-24 September, 1993. The Committee has the task ofdetermining the programme of work, including the mandate of theworking groups, and the consideration by the working groups, of thecompilation text. This text, prepared by the Secretariat, containselements of the Convention proposed by various governments.

The INCD was established by the UN General Assembly in Resolution47/188 with a view to producing a convention by June 1994. Theorganizational session was held in January, 1993. At that meetingdelegates elected Bo Kjell‚n Chair of the Committee, elected theBureau, adopted the rules of procedure, set the schedule ofmeetings and established the two working groups.

The first session of the INCD was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 24May - 3 June, 1993. The first week of this session focussed on thesharing of technical information and assessments on various aspectsof drought and desertification. Divided into seven sections, theinformation sharing segment provided an opportunity for scientists,technical experts, delegates and NGOs to share relevant experiencesand learn more about the scourge of desertification and its globaldimensions. The second week focussed on the structure and elementsto be contained in the Convention. As well, delegates exchangedideas about the Convention and its objectives.

Several areas of consensus appeared to have been reached. Theseinclude: the need for a bottom-up approach that reinforces localparticipation and action, NGO activities, the full participation ofwomen, and the significance of indigenous technologies andpractices. The idea of national and sub-regional action programmesalso received overwhelming support. Delegates also supported theneed for commitments to improved research and development, datacollection and analysis, exchange of information, capacity buildingand transfer and adaptation of technology.

While agreement was reached on the mandates of the working groups,negotiations stalled in Nairobi over the elaboration of relatedregional instruments while still giving priority action to Africa.Kjell‚n proposed (A/AC.241/L.6) that an instrument on Africa, suchas an annex, be negotiated once the main structure of theConvention had been defined and that similar instruments for otherregions be negotiated subsequently. This proposal met withresistance from a few countries in regions other than Africa thatbelieved their own problems with desertification deserved attentionand that similar instruments for their regions should be negotiatedsimultaneously with the instrument for Africa.

The Chair finally proposed text that invited the 48th session ofthe General Assembly to consider extending the negotiating processso that the Convention and the African instrument would be adoptedby June 1994 and the other instruments would enter into forceaccording to modalities to be specified in the Convention. Fourdelegations, Brazil and Mexico, later supported by Peru andPakistan, could not accept this text. The decision on this matterwas deferred to the second session.

INTERSESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

The workshop on Desertification and Land Use in the MediterraneanBasin met in Almera, Spain from 29-30 June, 1993 with theobjective of: reviewing the effects of land use on landdegradation, biodiversity and the functioning of biological, socialand cultural systems; providing scientific and technical inputs tothe INCD from the Mediterranean perspective; and promotinginteraction between regional experts on desertification. Themeeting was attended by 82 experts from 20 countries and 8international and national organizations. Discussion focussed onthree topics: traditional land uses in relation to desertification;environmental and social impacts of high technology agriculture andtourism; and public policies for mitigating the effects ofdesertification. The Workshop recommended: furthermultidisciplinary research to include the participation of localcommunities; increased training to build national and institutionalcapacities; increased regional cooperation and a regional approachto the problem; continued EC support for desertification researchin the Mediterranean in light of its contribution to the INCDnegotiations; and follow-up to the meeting throughinformation-exchange and workshops. The Workshop stressed the needfor the Convention and recommended that the Mediterranean countriesstrongly support the work of the INCD. It also requested the INCDto reflect the conclusions of the workshop in the Convention and tostimulate the exchange of information and expertise between bothsides of the Mediterranean basin and among other countries withsimilar climates.

WORKSHOP ON DESERTIFICATION AND LAND USE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN

The workshop on Desertification and Land Use in the MediterraneanBasin met in Almera, Spain from 29-30 June, 1993 with theobjective of: reviewing the effects of land use on landdegradation, biodiversity and the functioning of biological, socialand cultural systems; providing scientific and technical inputs tothe INCD from the Mediterranean perspective; and promotinginteraction between regional experts on desertification. Themeeting was attended by 82 experts from 20 countries and 8international and national organizations. Discussion focussed onthree topics: traditional land uses in relation to desertification;environmental and social impacts of high technology agriculture andtourism; and public policies for mitigating the effects ofdesertification. The Workshop recommended: furthermultidisciplinary research to include the participation of localcommunities; increased training to build national and institutionalcapacities; increased regional cooperation and a regional approachto the problem; continued EC support for desertification researchin the Mediterranean in light of its contribution to the INCDnegotiations; and follow-up to the meeting throughinformation-exchange and workshops. The Workshop stressed the needfor the Convention and recommended that the Mediterranean countriesstrongly support the work of the INCD. It also requested the INCDto reflect the conclusions of the workshop in the Convention and tostimulate the exchange of information and expertise between bothsides of the Mediterranean basin and among other countries withsimilar climates.

EXPERTS MEETING ON DESERTIFICATION FROM LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

The Experts Meeting on Desertification from Latin America and theCaribbean, hosted by the Regional Office of UNEP, was held inMexico City on 23-24 July, 1993. It was attended by 14 experts fromArgentina, Brazil, Cuba, Chile, Mexico, Peru and UNEP. The groupdealt with the political and technical aspects of interest to theregion's governments regarding the work of the INCD. The meetingissued a series of recommendations and conclusions that weregrouped into four areas: the situation of desertification in theregion; national action plans to combat desertification;suggestions for immediate action in the region; and thenegotiations of the INCD. The recommendations and conclusions forthe Committee included the need to: recognize the global characterof the Convention; reaffirm that Latin America and the Caribbeanare severely affected by drought and desertification; recognizethat the particular reference to Africa in the Convention will notexclude the necessity and urgency for action in other equallyaffected regions; negotiate specific instruments of equal weightfor all regions affected by drought and desertification; mobilizeregional experience to support the negotiations; request the INCDSecretariat for support in holding regional meetings with theobjective of negotiating a specific instrument for Latin Americaand the Caribbean, with the first meeting to be held this year sothat a specific instrument could be presented for the region at theMarch 1994 session of the INCD.

IV INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DESERT DEVELOPMENT

The IV International Conference on Desert Development was held inMexico City from 25-30 July, 1993 and was attended by approximately250 participants from more than 40 countries. The meeting wasorganized by the Graduates College in Montecillo, Mexico and theNational Commission of Arid Zones (CONAZA) of Mexico. Papers werepresented on diverse topics ranging from current methods used toevaluate desertification to the effects of desertification on goatmeat lipids in Egypt. During the Conference, a special session ondesertification control technologies was hosted by the FAO regionaloffice for Latin America and the Caribbean and the UNEPDesertification PAC.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU) DRAFT CONVENTION

Work on the format, guidelines and objectives for a draftConvention began on a step-by-step basis both before and during theNairobi session of the INCD. A small group of experts together withthe OAU Secretariat met to finalize the text that was sent to theINCD Secretariat as the common African position. The format andreport were presented and approved at the OAU Heads of State Summitin Cairo.

NGO COORDINATION MEETING

NGOs met in Bamako, Mali on 16-20 August to prepare their inputinto the INCD. The conference was funded by the INCD Secretariatthrough the NGLS and co-organized by four African NGOs: KENGO(Kenya), ENDA-TM (Senegal), GUAMINA (Mali) and NEST (Nigeria).

The deliberations addressed local and global concerns. The localconcerns included: land tenure policies (or lack thereof) thatalienate local communities, especially pastoralists, from theirtraditional land-use systems and drought-coping mechanisms; and theneed for true community-led approaches to combat desertification.It was stressed that local communities have the knowledge andexpertise to best deal with local problems.

On global issues, NGOs emphasized the need to furnish governmentswith concrete examples of how aid and international trade policiesimpact on specific communities. NGOs stressed that there should beno additional funding for desertification but that part of thecurrent development funding should be earmarked for combattingdesertification and that the necessary structures should beestablished to ensure that funds actually reach their intendedbeneficiaries.

DOCUMENTATION

NGOS TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR ACCREDITATION (A/AC.241/9/Add.2):The Secretariat has recommended that 35 additional NGOs beaccredited to participate in the work of the Committee. This listincludes 22 developing country NGOs.

ANNOTATED PROVISIONAL AGENDA (A/AC.241/11): This documentincludes the provisional agenda, adopted at the Nairobi session asA/AC.241/L.8.

COMPILATION OF GOVERNMENT VIEWS, STATEMENTS AND DRAFTINGPROPOSALS (A/AC.241/12): This lengthy background negotiatingdocument, prepared by the Secretariat at the request of the INCD,synthesizes more than 700 pages of comments, statements anddrafting proposals for the contents of the Convention. The documenthas been organized to allow Working Group I to take up thepreamble, principles, objectives, commitments, including financialarrangements and capacity building and Working Group II to tacklethe scientific/technical areas and Section III, "Institutional andProcedural Arrangements," which will include any instrumentsrelated to the Convention.

REVIEW OF THE SITUATION AS REGARDS EXTRABUDGETARY FUNDS(A/AC.241/13): This document lists the pledges made and theactual contributions received for both the Special Voluntary Fundto support the participation of developing countries affected bydrought and desertification and the Trust Fund for the negotiatingprocess. It also includes summaries of expenditures to date andestimates for the necessary extrabudgetary resources needed for theremainder of the negotiating process. Several governments have notyet fulfilled their pledges, including France (US$166,667), Germany(US$174,418) and the Netherlands (US$518,134).

THE REPORT OF THE FIRST SESSION (A/48/226): This report(also listed as A/AC.241/10), is the note by the Secretary-Generalto the 48th General Assembly under item 100 of the provisionalagenda on the implementation of the decisions and recommendationsof UNCED. A report of the INCD from its first session thatsummarizes the work of the Committee, lists the participants andincludes the texts of the decisions adopted at the session.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY

BUREAU: The Bureau will meet today at 10:00 am. Items fordiscussion may include the development of a document outlining thework programme for the session to be presented to delegates laterin the day. Kjell‚n will most likely present the results ofintersessional consultations on the negotiating timetable forregional instruments.

PLENARY: The first meeting of this session is scheduled for3:00 pm. Opening remarks are expected from both INCD Chair BoKjell‚n and INCD Executive Secretary Arba Diallo. Diallo may takethis opportunity to introduce A/AC.241/12, "Compilation ofgovernment views, statements and drafting proposals." A number ofMinisters present are expected to make statements including: MariaHelena Semedo, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (Cape Verde); Mahamed Ag Erlaf, Minister of theEnvironment (Mali); Anatole Gomtirbou Tiendrebeogo, Minister ofEnvironment and Tourism (Burkina Faso); Eustache Sarre, Minister ofEnvironment, Housing and Urban Development (Benin); S. Kairulloyev,Minister of the Environment (Tajikistan); and the Deputy Ministerof the Environment of Kazakhstan. It is possible that UNDPAdministrator Gus Speth will speak.

The first item to be considered by the Plenary will be the adoptionof the provisional agenda (A/AC.241/11). The Plenary is expected toelect a representative from the Russian Federation, as nominated bythe Eastern European group, to the remaining vacancy in the workinggroups bureaus.

The Plenary will then address the organization of work for thesession and the unfinished business left from the last night of thefirst session. These include the mandate of the two working groupsand the schedule for the negotiation of regional instruments. TheChair should present either the draft resolution transmitted tothis session from the last night in Nairobi on the mandate of theworking groups (A/AC.241/L.10/Rev.1) or a revision, together witha draft programme of work in the form of a decision document,depending on the result of the Chair's intersessionalconsultations. If a decision can be reached on the mandates of theworking groups and the programme of work, a decision on themodalities for the negotiation of similar regional instruments willprobably be deferred until next week, following additional informal consultations. Look for the possibility of a proposal for anadditional working group to expedite negotiations on the regionalannexes/protocols.

The Committee is then expected to begin the general debate, whichis scheduled to continue through Tuesday morning.