http://www.celsias.com/article/combating-desertification-secure-biodiversity-food/

Combating Desertification to Secure Biodiversity, the Food Supply, and Dryland Regions Around the World

Amy Anaruk

Earth's great deserts formed slowly, as lack of precipitation over areas with low vegetation resulted in vast swaths of arid land. Some of these dry places, like the Sahara, were once fertile grasslands and may become so again sometime in the far future. Deserts are major geographical features of this planet, a result of natural forces over time. Desertification, however, resulting from harmful human activity like deforestation and overgrazing that-along with climate change-quickly degrades arid and semi-arid land, is anything but natural. Think the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl years, an environmental disaster that's still healing and serves as a good example of the need for soil conservation and dryland management in drought-prone regions.

When desertification occurs on a massive scale, it threatens biodiversity and limits the amount of land where humans can live or grow food. In short, fighting land degradation is key to protecting both biodiversity and the global food supply. This year's recent UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) focused on all three and on the possibility of using degraded land for biofuel production with its theme of combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture .

According to the statement from UNCCD Executive Secretary Luc Gnacadja,

"The conversion of land in unsustainable uses can exacerbate the vicious circle of land degradation, loss of biodiversity and climate change. Land degradation weakens the soil's fertility, disrupts the balance of the water cycle and contributes to food insecurity, famine and poverty, as well as forced migration. Confronting this complex issue requires a global response to increase the productivity of land ecosystems and make sustainable agricultural production a priority through pro-poor policies in view of adaptation to climate change and biodiversity protection. - UNCCD

Gnacadja also emphasizes the need for a global fight against desertification using science and technology to help. While loss of fertile land and subsequent reductions in biodiversity affect the whole world, it's especially critical to increase sustainability for people who live in degraded areas and to respect and preserve local, traditional knowledge there, Gnacadja says.

The UN's agency for combating rural poverty in developing nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), also notes the importance of policies in vulnerable areas that take poverty into account:

"Dryland ecosystems are very vulnerable to over-exploitation and inappropriate land use. Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and poor irrigation practices can all contribute to desertification. Sub-Saharan Africa, where 66 per cent of the land is either desert or dryland, is particularly at risk. Around 1.2 billion people in more than 110 countries are threatened by the problem.

IFAD has made land degradation and its causes a central part of its work, and has an ongoing commitment to address the issue in rural areas. About 70 per cent of IFAD's rural poverty reduction programmes and projects are in ecologically fragile, marginal environments . All IFAD programmes and projects are screened for potential adverse effects on the environment, natural resources and local populations." - IFAD

Modifying agricultural practices on a global scale involves a massive amount of work, of course, and IFAD nottes that changes must occur in water and forest management, crop systems, and planting, particularly since climate change will threaten seeds with more droughts and floods.

What happens if we don't ensure responsible farming and land use in the world's dry areas?

(continued)

Job vacancy: climate change + development - forest protection + sustainable forestry in Central + South America

The German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut fr Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), a non-profit organization of the German Federal Government and the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, is engaged in scientific research, policy advice and training activities.

For the project <Climate Change and Development we are looking for a research associate (full-time position, EG 13/14 TD, depending on qualification). The position will open up on 1 October 2008 and is scheduled to end on 31 December 2009 (with the possibility of an extension).

The research project Climate Change and Developme is concerned with analyzing the determinants for vulnerability and adaptive capacity in selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in particular in the fields of governance, natural resource management, and social networks. The new position will focus on selected countries of Central and South America and specialize on forest issues.

Job description:

The research associate we are looking for will cover two areas of work: (i) adaptation strategies and policies in selected countries of the Latin American region and (ii) local approaches for forest protection and sustainable management integrating development and climate policy objectives (keywords: reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation REDD, Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, Payments for Ecosystem Services). Networking with research groups in Europe and Latin America dealing with similar issues will be another task of the research associate. The results of the research will inform policy advice given to the German ministry of development cooperation.

The position is assigned to the DIsDepa rtment IV, which is concerned with environmental policy and resource management.

Eligibility and qualifications:

a) proven knowledge of and experience in research on climate change and/or global environmental change;
b) a degree - with good grades - in political science or the social sciences, economics, forestry or agricultural sciences, as well as sound knowledge in one of the following subfields: development policy and governance, environmental and resource economics;
c) applicants with a completed PhD will be given preference;
d) applicants are expected to have relevant experience in developing countries;
e) applicants should be proficient in spoken and written English and have a good command of Spanish or Portuguese;
f) applicants should be willing to engage in intensive teamwork;
g) applicants should be willing to travel to countries in non-European regions.

In cases of equal merit, preference will be given to applicants with severe disability.

For further inquiries please contact Dr. Imme Scholz at the DIE.

Please send us your application, complete with all documents, at the following address by 31 July 2008:

Deutsches Institut r Entwicklungspolitik
Tulpenfeld 6 // 53113 Bonn
Telephone +49 (0)228 94927-0 // Fax +49 (0)228 94927-130
E-mail: die@die-gdi.de // Internet: www.die-gdi.de

______________________________________________________________

Anette Koehler
Projectcoordinator

Deutsches Institut fr Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)
German Development Institute

Tulpenfeld 6
53113 Bonn

Telefon: +49 (0)228 94927 244
Fax: +49 (0)228 94927 130

anette.koehler@die-gdi.de
www.die-gdi.de

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5820

Land Degradation Worse Than Previously Reported

by Ben Block on July 9, 2008

Land degradation is becoming worse in severity and extent across many regions of the world, with croplands, in particular, declining in function and productivity, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said in a new report. Prior to the release of the report last Wednesday, U.N. Environment Program-funded research had estimated that between 10 and 20 percent of the world's 1.5 billion hectares of cropland suffered from some level of degradation. Now, using satellite imagery for the years between 1981 and 2003, the FAO researchers estimate that 24 percent of all land surface area is depleted. Despite the world undergoing a crisis of food supply shortages, funding and research dedicated to global land degradation is sparse. In this report, the FAO called for individuals, communities, and governments to dedicate "renewed attention" to the state of the world's soil, citing food security and climate change mitigation as reasons for concern.

Consequences of land degradation include reduced productivity, farmer migration, food insecurity, ecosystem failure, and biodiversity decline.

Cropland occupies only 12 percent of global land area, but it accounted for 20 percent of the land considered degraded. When this occurs, the poor often struggle to raise enough money for the fertilizers that could avoid reduced yields.

Farming methods are generally the cause for degradation. Excessive tillage and removal of vegetation often encourage soil erosion by exposing the soil to rain and wind. Overgrazing by cattle and the build-up of salt on irrigated land are major contributors, as well.

Degradation has historically been considered a problem of tropical, developing nations. Sub-Saharan Africa is still most severely affected. The region contains 13 percent of global degraded area, while nations such as Swaziland are almost entirely located on degraded soil.

The degradation that has occurred over the past 23 years, however, mostly affects new areas. According to the report, nations such as China, Argentina, and South Africa are now facing greater problems than before.

More assessment of land degradation has become crucial, the authors noted. "Quantitative, up-to-date information is needed to support policy development for food and water security, environmental integrity, and economic development," the report said.

The study follows the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development's April report that called for a worldwide "paradigm shift" towards more sustainable agriculture. Among the suggestions, it called for government support of small-scale irrigation and greenwater technologies for degraded croplands, such as in Sub-Saharan Africa.

(continued)

Ben Block is a staff writer with the Worldwatch Institute. He can be reached at bblock@worldwatch.org.

*** id21NRNews, Number 49, July 2008 ***

RECENT RESEARCH
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Securing land and infrastructure in Namibia

How can urban development be improved to meet the needs of poor people? Experience from Namibia shows how a strong people’s movement can address the needs of poor people without depending on property rights or state welfare. http://www.id21.org/nr/u2dm1g1.html <http://www.id21.org/nr/u2dm1g1.html>

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A sustainable livelihoods approach to watershed management in India

Over half the cultivated area in Andhra Pradesh depends on rainfall, although the State is prone to drought. A sustainable livelihoods approach to watershed development could prove a useful strategy for the development of this and other dryland areas.
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Science and technology are central to development in Africa. But scientific solutions to development problems are not always appropriate to the places where the problems arise. How can scientists be supported to develop appropriate, innovative and sustainable solutions to problems?
http://www.id21.org/nr/n1jc1g1.html <http://www.id21.org/nr/n1jc1g1.html>

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Involve miners to help small-scale mining in sub-Saharan Africa

Millions of dollars have been spent to make artisanal and small-scale mining more regular, but there are no clear improvements in the sector. Despite this, the Global Support Facility continues to give contracts for programmes based more on consultant priorities than the knowledge and needs of the miners.
http://www.id21.org/nr/n2gh1g2.html <http://www.id21.org/nr/n2gh1g2.html>

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OTHER NEWS:
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id21 insights 73 – Improving the nutrition of children and women

The latest issue of id21 insights is now available. http://www.id21.org/insights/insights73/index.html

This issue is guest edited by Lawrence Haddad from the Institute of Development Studies, in the UK, with academic advice from Catherine Geissler, at King’s College, London, in the UK. The issue asks why nutrition is not a higher priority for donors, and contains many recommendations and suggestions for giving nutrition more attention within the development community.

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IDS Research Fellows in Knowledge, Information and Communication in International Development (closing date, July 29, 2008)

What roles do knowledge, information and communication play in positive social change? The Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex, has launched a new research theme to advance understanding in this area (including the contribution of associated technologies) and is looking to appoint two Research Fellows to lead this work, linking research and practice within its Information Department, Communications Unit and Research Teams.
http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/about-ids/working-at-ids/current-vacancies <http://www.ids.ac.uk/go/about-ids/working-at-ids/current-vacancies>

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Latest issue of 'id21 insights':
'Improving the nutrition of children and women'
id21 insights 73, July 2008

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id21 insights 72, April 2008

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http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jyVZnaia5OL98W_V-EidGfnLHz1Q

Russia faces disease, drought from global warming: WWF

MOSCOW (AFP) — Russia faces an increase in disease, drought and damage to infrastructure because of climate change, the environmental group WWF said on Tuesday, urging the authorities to "take a lead" on the issue. "We're very worried.... We have to act in time. Some regions of Russia need urgent attention," Alexei Kokorin, a WWF researcher and one of the authors of the report, said at a press conference in Moscow presenting a new study. Drawing attention to an issue that is only beginning to be discussed in Russia, WWF said the authorities should press to reduce global emissions and adopt a strategy for dealing with the effects of climate change.

"We must understand that damage caused by climate change is here and now rather than a problem in the distant future.... There's a lot at stake, including our health," said Igor Chestin, head of WWF Russia.

Since coming to power last month, President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered measures to reduce by 40 percent the amount of energy Russia uses per unit of gross domestic product by 2020.

But the subject is still not part of general public debate in a country that benefits from high energy prices and whose economy has boomed in the past few years, improving the livelihoods of many.

(continued)

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/07/07/global-climate-change-what-does-it-mean-world%E2%80%99s-women

Global Climate Change: What Does it Mean for the World’s Women?

Malea Hoepf Young on July 8, 2008

Malea Hoepf Young's blog

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23979404-2702,00.html

Welcome to a drought-stricken future

Asa Wahlquist and Christian Kerr | July 07, 2008

AUSTRALIA'S agricultural regions face a hotter, drier, more drought-stricken future as a result of climate change, with major implications for both the price and supply of food.

The prediction has been delivered in a major report by the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO, described yesterday by Kevin Rudd as "very disturbing" and "a serious revision of the impact of climate change on drought". Agriculture Minister Tony Burke warned the cycle of drought would be "more regular and deeper than ever". He described the higher-level projections in the assessment as "more like a disaster novel than a scientific report". He said the report found extreme temperatures that used to occur once every 20 to 25 years "are now likely to occur one in every one to two years as we move towards the year 2030". The area experiencing exceptionally low rainfall is forecast to double, as is the likelihood of drought. The findings may have major implications for the cost of food and food security.

"Food prices will probably go up," Australian Dairy Farmers president Allan Burgess warned. "Food pricing is already on a new plane and the sorts of things in the report add to that.

"We're already talking about food shortages around the world. The kinds of impacts people are talking about in terms of carbon emissions and climate change are probably going to exacerbate that."

The report was commissioned as part of a review of current drought policy.

Mr Burke has also commissioned a review of the social impact of drought, along with an economic assessment from the Productivity Commission.

Farmer Tony Morrison said farmers had been trying to adapt to climate change, and thought it right that drought policy was adapted also.

Mr Morrison farms at Breadalbane, in the Goulburn region southwest of Sydney, which has been eligible for federal drought support since October 2003.

"Since the year 2000, we have only had our average rainfall twice, and then it was only just," he said. "We haven't had above-average rainfall since 94-95. It has been pretty droughty for 10 years or more."

Opposition agriculture spokesman Nigel Scullion said food prices were already under pressure. "We've got increased inputs, particularly in any of those areas association with hydrocarbons, fuel and fertiliser and chemicals." Senator Scullion said ensuring food security was essential.

"When we're talking climate change, we've got to ensure that the issue of food security is up there as an equal partner with all the other aspects of the debate."

The report says that most of eastern and southwestern Australia has become drier. It finds recent years have been unusually dry, with recent droughts accompanied by higher temperatures.

But NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald says conditions in his state may not be due to climate change.

Almost two-thirds of NSW is now drought-declared, with 20.9 per cent of the state considered marginal and only 14 per cent, largely in coastal areas, satisfactory.

"I don't link this drought to climate change," Mr Macdonald said yesterday. "In the southeast of Australia we've had some major droughts ... the federation drought at the turn of the 20th century went on for 14 years. I think drought is a very natural cycle in the climate characteristics of Australia."

At first, Mr Morrison treated the drought "like any other". But with the realisation he was dealing with climate change, he switched from merino sheep to the tougher Dohne sheep.

Currently, areas become eligible for drought support, or exceptional circumstances, if they are experiencing a rare or severe event, defined as occurring once every 20 or 25 years.

(continued)

Additional reporting: AAP

http://7thspace.com/headlines/285835/economic_and_social_council_opens_high_level_segment_of_substantive_session_at_headquarters_on_theme_achieving_sustainable_development.html

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL OPENS HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF SUBSTANTIVE SESSION AT HEADQUARTERS ON THEME ‘ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT’

President Says Rising Commodity Prices, Deepening Income Disparities,
Climate Change ‘Serious Threats to Our Efforts to Lift People Out of Poverty’

With soaring commodity prices and the onset of global warming threatening to undo hard-won progress made to alleviate poverty in the developing world, the President of the Economic and Social Council today urged national Governments and the United Nations system to collaborate on integrated approaches to development that placed sustainability at the core of coherent economic growth strategies.

Council President Léo Mérorès, of Haiti, said that the 54-member body, which opened the high-level segment of its annual substantive session in New York today, was meeting as recent global prosperity and economic growth was being pressured by rising food and oil prices, deeper income disparities, and increased competition for resources. “We are facing serious threats to our efforts to lift people out of poverty,” he said, adding that those challenges were further compounded by climate change and the more frequent and more intense storms, floods and droughts that came with it.

This year’s Annual Ministerial Review, which traditionally kicks off the Council’s month-long session, would contribute to promoting collective solutions, including strengthening governance and global cooperation, increasing financial assistance and promoting technology transfer, he said. The two-day Review would also bolster current efforts to better integrate the three elements of sustainable development -- economic growth, social development and environmental protection -- because, he said: “It seems that if development is not sustainable, it will not be attainable.”

He also said that with uncertainty growing about the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the Council’s Development Cooperation Forum, which held its first biennial meeting today, was envisioned as a United Nations forum for ensuring coherence in cooperation towards attaining globally agreed development targets. The Forum was uniquely placed to bring together a wide range of development actors and, therefore, had the potential to be a leading venue for inclusive global dialogue and policy review on key development issues.

Under-Secretary-General of Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang, who delivered a message on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, noted that this was “a critical juncture” in the implementation of the United Nations development agenda. The fragile state of the major developed market economies, and broader economic turbulence were slowing global economic growth, while rising food and energy prices were hitting the poor and vulnerable especially hard.

Urgent collective action was needed, particularly to address global economic imbalances and widespread scepticism about globalization, which many felt was leaving behind the most vulnerable and increasing economic insecurity among the middle classes. “No social or economic order is secure if it fails to benefit the majority of those who live under it,” he said, adding that: “This session of ECOSOC should give new impetus to the realization of our long-standing goal of achieving economic growth, social development and environmental protection in an integrated and balanced manner, which is the key to the prosperity of humankind.”

Today’s opening session also featured keynote addresses by Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Nobel-prize winning group of scientists tasked with studying human activity’s effects on the environment; and Lord Stern of Brentford, economist and author of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, the groundbreaking 2006 report that assessed the effect of climate change and global warming on the world economy.

“We’re all in this together,” said Lord Stern, outlining the key elements of a global framework to tackle climate change. The targets of such a framework would include worldwide cuts in emissions by 50 per cent by 2050, with rich countries cutting at least 80 per cent. Developing countries should take on targets by, at latest, 2020, as rich countries demonstrated low-carbon growth, lived up to funding agreements, and shared technologies.

He cautioned that any new deal must not “be like a WTO deal where nobody does anything until everybody agreed on everything. We don’t have that kind time.” There was a need to accelerate public policy design, and research and technology development, and to generate the political will to put policies into action, especially towards low carbon growth. The new framework for action required each individual country to start acting now, with the understanding that other countries would come along. The effort depended on global political leadership and would involve the largest collaborative effort the world had ever seen.

Also today, the Council held a high-level policy dialogue with international financial and trade institutions on current developments in the world economy that featured statements from: Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Murilo Portugal, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund; Justin Lin, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the World Bank; Valentine Rugwabiza, Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Ricardo French-Davis, Chairman of the Committee for Development Policy; Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme; and Mr. Sha.

Ms. Rugwabiza said that, while the WTO’s Doha Development round could not provide immediate solutions to many problems, its successful conclusion could form part of the midterm solutions to help put the world back on the path of economic growth. But, differences would have to be bridged, and every attempt be made to push the limits of political will and to strive for the adoption of the modalities in agriculture and non-agricultural goods by the end of next month.

Indeed, Mr. Panitchpakdi cautioned that, although the world was now standing at the threshold of a breakthrough for this round of negotiations, a breakthrough had to be made by July or a crucial window would close.

(continued)

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) today opened the four-day high-level segment of its annual substantive session, which will run at Headquarters until 25 July.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/015200807031021.htm

Land degradation affects over 20 pc of cultivated areas

New York (PTI): Land degradation is on the rise in many parts of the world and is affecting more than 20 per cent of all cultivated areas, a new United Nations report says. The study involving data taken over a 20-year period shows, the phenomenon is increasing in severity and extent, with more than 20 per cent of all cultivated areas, 30 per cent of forests and 10 per cent of grasslands undergoing degradation. The degradation of land has direct consequence on an estimated 1.5 billion people or a quarter of the world's population the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has warned.

"The study shows that land degradation remains a priority issue requiring renewed attention by individuals, communities and governments," Rome-based FAO said.

The degradation is witnessed in most places except in some areas in rain-fed crops lands and pastures in prairies and planes of western India, northern China and North America which show improvement, it said.

Consequences of land degradation include reduced productivity, migration, food insecurity, damage to basic resources and ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity.

"Land degradation also has important implications for climate change mitigation and adaptation, as the loss of biomass and soil organic matter releases carbon into the atmosphere and affects the quality of soil and its ability to hold water and nutrients," notes Parviz Koohafkan, Director of FAO's Land and Water Division.

(continued)

[Cap-Net newsletter] June 2008

Climate change

Climate change is a matter that almost everyone is aware of although we may not yet know what impact it is going to have on our lives. Cap-Net had a consultation recently with network partners to discuss how our capacity building initiatives can be better coordinated around the issue of adapting to climate change. Networks such as REDICA in Central America have been providing capacity building on climate change and others have been addressing floods, (Cap-Net Bangladesh, Cap-Net Brasil) or water related disasters (Nile IWRM-net). Cap-Net and the Associated Programme on Flood Management of the World Meteorological Organisation are collaborating on the development of capacity building action. Better management of water resources is believed to be one of the most important preparations for the uncertainty of water resource supplies in the future and this will be the subject of a new training programme to be developed and presented in Panama in August. The course is expected to be taken up widely across the global network and will be linked with other important materials and strategies being developed on urban flood management, community management of floods and coping with hydro-climatic disasters. These materials and programmes are all part of the climate change action plan being impemented by Cap-Net and our partners.

Masters education for Water Managers

There are many new educational programmes at Masters level that address water resources management or Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).There is uncertainty about how these graduates are being accepted in the water sector, is there a demand for their expertise and are they receiving the right education. There is still a lack of clarity about what constitutes IWRM and so it was felt necessary to bring together the various educators that are part of Cap-Net affiliated networks to discuss these and other issues. Representing programmes in Argentina, Malaysia, Caribbean, Southern Africa, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica the discussion was rich and valuable experiences were shared. Although not a specific objective of the meeting participants agreed on follow up actions to share curricula, explore possibilities for student exchange, carry out joint collaborative research on IWRM, and to explore options to improve funding for students.
Contact Simone Noemdoe (Simone.Noemdoe@cap-net.org ) for more information on how to contribute to the group.

(continued)

.......................

Water Resource Protection in the Arab World

From 2 to 4 June 2008, the regional workshop on "Protecting Drinking Water Sources from Pollution: Policy Options and Practical Solutions" was held under the patronage of H.E. the Minister of Water and Irrigation of Jordan, Eng. Raed Abu Soud at the Dead Sea in Jordan. The workshop was organised by the regional BGR-ESCWA water project in cooperation with the MWI-BGR project in Jordan, AWARENET, ACWUA, and was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The workshop brought together over 70 participants from competent government authorities, water utilities, academia, NGOs, the private sector and development projects from 12 Arab Countries, namely: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen, including resource people from Germany, Japan, UK and USA.

The participants issued the "Dead Sea Statement" on water protection recommendations in condensed form. The "Dead Sea Statement" shall facilitate and support advocacy work by local, national and regional initiatives and projects for water and environmental protection.

The statement could be downloaded from AWARENET website: www.awarenet.org

...................

Water Utilities and IWRM.

Cap-Net is collaborating with UN-HABITAT to plan for capacity building on IWRM for water and sewerage utilities. The need for such training follows from a series of case studies carried out on water management in utilities by Nile IWRM-net, WaterNet and WA-Net in Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Mali. Access to clean, safe water and appropriate sanitation is essential for human well-being but often this is carried out without full understanding of the competition with other uses and the water resource base. Utilities and water resource managers should be working together to solve problems of water quality, water demand management and water pricing. More sustainable development of water resources to meet the needs of rapidly growing urban centres demands that water utility operators are looking both upstream and downstream.
UN-HABITAT is developing a Global Water Operators Partnership to enhance the performance of water and sanitation utilities. Regional Water Operators Partnerships are in various stages of development and provide a new opportunity to improve service delivery to the poor and unserved. http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/5377_74541_frame.pdf

The Cap-Net Team
Mail: info@Cap-Net.org
Web: www.Cap-Net.org
Tel: +27 12 3309077
Fax: +27 12 3314860

Mita Sen <sen@un.org>

Forest Policy Info Mailing List <forests-l@lists.iisd.ca>

Call for inputs to UNFF online forum on Forests and Climate Change

The UNFF Secretariat is currently hosting a webforum on "Forests and Climate Change". You are invited to participate in this online discussion and share your experiences, lessons learnt or any other element useful for a better understanding of this important issue.

This online forum is being organized to generate dialogue, and elicit inputs on one of the themes for discussion at the upcoming 8th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests, which will take place at UNHQ New York, from 20 April - 1 May 2009.

The webforum will remain open from 1-31 July 2008 and can be accessed at
http://esaconf.un.org/WB/default.asp?action=10&boardid=46&fid=669

***********************************************************
UN Forum on Forests Secretariat
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
One UN Plaza, DC1-1245
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: +1 212 963 3401
Fax: +1 917 367 3186
http://www.un.org/esa/forests

SciDev.Net Weekly Update (23 - 29 June 2008)

Latest articles from the leading source of free news and commentary about science, technology and innovation in the developing world

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South Asia News in brief: 12–26 June 2008
Bangladesh gets serious about climate change, Canada and India team up for S&T projects, Bhutanese Yak herders favour solar power, and more.

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Brazil launches two varieties of GM soya
The Brazilian company Embrapa has developed two varieties of soybeans resistant to pests and extreme weather conditions.
[Spanish full text only]

Mexico and Central America 'to have environmental plan'
Mexico and Central America have agreed to create a plan addressing climate change for 2009.
[Spanish full text only]

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Biogas: A scent of success for Vietnam small business
Vietnamese researchers are expanding the use of biogas as a sustainable energy source for the country's small businesses.

http://truebdnews.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/%E2%80%9Cdesertification-claim-in-phulbari-unrealistic%E2%80%9D/

“Desertification Claim in Phulbari Unrealistic

Prof. Dr. Ajoy K. Ghose, FNAE

World’s leading mining expert Prof. Dr. Ajoy K. Ghose thinks Phulbari Coal Mine Project has more potential compared to Barapukuria Coal Mine. It is possible to extract 15 million tonne/year of coal safely. And water management is the major challenge for it. The plan the project authorities have taken is world class. Environment and rehabilitation challenges are also manageable. On the other side, the claim of causing desertification due to withdrawal of water from the mining area is unrealistic. Such a situation will not happen in real sense.  Prof. Ghose has been closely working on mining for five decades. He started his career from a UK mine at the age of 23. But he has long association with teaching profession. Prof. Ajoy Ghose is now visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of UNDP for a study on Sustainable Energy based on Alternative Fuel such as coal. A former Director of Indian School of Mines, he is now a mining industry consultant and Editor of the Journal of Mine, Metals and Fuels. He is also a part-time Director of Central Mine Planning & Design Institute, Ranchi. He talked to Editor of Energy & Power Mollah Amzad Hossain. Following are the excerpts of the interview:

EP: How do you evaluate the energy sector of Bangladesh?

Ajoy: Bangladesh faces acute crisis of energy. The depleting gas resource creates a very critical situation for country’s future energy situation. So, the country needs to exploit all possible energy alternatives to ensure energy mix so that the economic growth does not slowdown because of non-availability of energy supply. Bangladesh has one of the lowest per capita energy consumptions and it has gas reserves, which is fast depleting. There is no recent oil discovery. It has a coal reserve of 2.4 billion metric tonnes and it is a big challenge how the country can ensure maximum use of coal overcoming the hurdles against coal exploitation.

EP: You are saying that coal extraction is a big challenge and difficult task. Why you are saying so, would you explain the matter in details?

Ajoy: There is a water-bearing formation over the coal deposits of Bangladesh North-West region. It is called Dupi Tila and such a formation cannot be found in most of the countries. There is a similar formation in Neyveli Lignite Mine in South India. For extraction of each tonnes of Lignite, it needs to pump out 12-13 tonnes of water. So, without pumping of water, it is not possible to extract Lignite. Water management is a big challenge to work beneath of he Upper Dupi Tila and lower Dupi Tila. It is difficult but possible. And it certainly involves technology and cost.

In Barapukuria, coal is being extracted through underground mining and there is problem with this water-bearing layer too. A big flooding took place once that reduced the quantity of extractable coal.

I cannot say definitely but I came to realize through my discussions with officials of Barapukuria who went to Indian Institute of Coal Management it may not be possible to extract one million tonne of coal annually from this mine. And the main reason is that it is very difficult to do such a feat using multi-slice mining in underground method. It is possible under open-cut or surface mining. But in such a situation, water management is also a big challenge. I told you about Neyvely. There are a number of lignite mines of Rheinbraun near Cologne in Germany. Such water-bearing structures are also there. They are mining by pumping out water continuously. There is technology, it is possible but certainly, the entire job is a difficult task.

EP: Would you please explain more elaborately about India’s Neyvely mine?

Ajoy: Over 32 million tonnes of lignite are being extracted every year from these mines and the lignite is being used to produce some 2750 MW electricity and it is the largest power hub in that region.

EP: You are comparing Bangladesh situation with India and German mining. Would tell me in details?

Ajoy: There are open-pit mines in both places –Neyvaly and Rheinbraun. I think mining could be done more successfully and much greater scale of operation in open-pit method in Phulbari compared to Barapukuria. I knew about Phulbari, its conditions and saw their mining plan. It is my observation, if the scope is created, it would be possible to extract 15 million tonnes of coal annually that could help to generate 500 MW, 1000 MW and even 2000 MW electricity in phases. It needs 6 million tonnes of coal. The pumping system that has been planned for water management in Phulbari is of high standard.

EP: Petrobangla recently held a symposium on coal where you were present. How do you evaluate the discussions and opinions?

Ajoy: Different people explained the matter in their own ways and they did so without knowing the mining systems. They do not know how it would be possible and how it would not be possible. It should not be right for me to say. But that is what I came to know from that discussion. I think Phulbari is a well-conceived project and the plans that have been made for environmental mitigation are sound and also got environmental clearance from the government. Some people will be displaced, but should be manageable with care. I personally believe Bangladesh economy will benefit once Phulbari project is fully implemented. It is assumed from evaluation that it will add 1 percent to the GDP growth.

EP: Projects face losses due delay in implementation. You have enough experience about mining. What is your observation about the incidences centering Phulbari and the delay in getting approval?

Ajoy: I am not fully conversant with the ground realities. Politics is everywhere. It is not only in Bangladesh, India faces the same situation. Last year, 456 million tonne coal and 32 million metric tonne lignite were extracted in India. Government has taken a policy to allow more of private sector in mining but many are opposing it. But we are observing it that it is not possible to meet the demand of electricity in India without extraction of coal. India gets over 70-71 percent power from coal and it will increase in future because India’s vision is to reach electricity to every body by 2012. I think that Bangladesh needs to extract coal to increase electricity generation. So, the government should take an informed decision on Phulbari without keeping the matter pending.

EP: In India policies are being changed in coal sector. Actually, what is happening there and how the civil society is evaluating these?

Ajoy: India is also facing some problems in extraction of coal. Keep it in mind that civil society is active everywhere and they are demarcating a land as forest even with a few trees and they are trying to prevent coal extraction in the name of forest preservation. Because, environmental clearances are not given in such cases. The Indian government and the regulatory authorities are working together on how to go ahead mitigating such problems. It is government’s prime target to extract maximum coal minimizing all adverse effects. In 2006, the Planning Commission formed a committee to review India’s mining policy and that committee presented a set of recommendations highlighting how the license would be given and what the royalty would be. The cabinet approved the policy in the light of those recommendations but it is yet to be passed by Parliament. But this time, Parliament will pass it.

At present, there are a lot of discussions on Coal Mine Nationalization Act. Captive mining is being allowed but they are not given permission to sell coal. Permission must be given to sell coal if anyone is allowed to extract coal.

EP: You are well-aware that the civil society is doing the same thing in Bangladesh. What is observation about it?

Ajoy: Civil society is also focusing on different issues. They are trying to prescribe that underground coal mine is needed in Phulbari but there is no scope to think about such a mine for Phulbari. I want to say it again that there is no alternative but to go ahead with a large-sized open-cut mining plan for Phulbari.

EP: Some experts here are suggesting conservative mining. What is your opinion?

Ajoy: We should not use any term like conservative mining. It should be ensured that maximum extraction of coal should be the target if we think about mining. But it will be a different issue if we want to preserve coal for future generations. Then, there would be no need to have a mine.

It is possible to keep closed a gas field after its development but if coal extraction is once started, there is no scope to stop it. And you have to use the extracted coal. There is risk of catching fire by self-heating if we keep coal stacked.

EP: There is also controversy about sustainable energy development. How do you explain it?

Ajoy: Actually, sustainable development, sustainable energy development are nebulous ideas. It is notoriously difficult to give a clear definition. It is said sustainable development means economic sustainability, social and environmental sustainability. I think economic sustainability is the real thing. All others will be taken care of if there is economic sustainability.

EP: You have seen our draft coal policy. Would you comment about it?

Ajoy: I had an opportunity to see it. Actually, it is not a policy paper in real sense. It is an action paper and you must keep it in mind that policy and action are completely different things. Policy is a guideline for what should be done in long term. So small issues included in it could never be part of a policy. The demand of electricity has been mentioned in the policy, which is unnecessary. Policy cannot contain demand figures; it can only articulate the overall intent for the nation.

EP: Some people are saying that it should not be rational to do an open-cut mine with 200-meter depth showing India’s Raniganj mine as example?

Ajoy: It depends on economic considerations how deep you will go to extract coal. I think it is site-specific. In India, coal is being extracted from 250-meter depth and in our country, some 87 percent coal is being extracted from open-pit mines. Underground mining is reducing day by day in India because it has become difficult in terms of costs, production volume and safety.

EP: It has been widely discussed about Phulbari mine that water level will go downward when water will be pumped out and the entire area will gradually turn into desert. What is your observation?

Ajoy: Look, water table will go down when water will be pumped out. But it is possible to solve such a problem through recharging or injecting water back. And those who are talking about desertification are only speculating.

EP: Mining affects farmland. Would re-filling of mining area restore the fertility of land?

Ajoy: Farmland will certainly be affected by mining but if we refilled it after extraction of coal, it becomes possible to vegetate it again. In some cases, the land becomes more fertile and for this topsoil must be preserved. It must be kept in mind that hybrid crops are cultivated by using fertilizer and water is used, the production will certainly be increased. On he other hand, it is possible to turn double-crop land into a three-crop land. It will take time to restore fertility if topsoil is not preserved.

EP: We have to think about community if we develop mine. How we can ensure rehabilitation of community?

Ajoy: It is really a big challenge. If the entire mining area is not developed along with the mine, it will look desert. Under the present system, it would not be enough to rehabilitate the people of the mining area, we must ensure rehabilitation of entire area economically. And for this reason, industries, schools and hospitals will be set up there and bringing back people to their respective professions.

We should remember that we are making man-made capital through exploiting natural resources. People must be trained up for the new jobs and we need resources and we need to search for new energy resources. For this reason, coal extraction has become essential for Bangladesh.

EP: It is now worldwide recognized that company community bridging is necessary for developing mine. What is your opinion about it for Bangladesh?

Ajoy: It is true. Coal mines across Europe faces closure, leaving workers jobless and it is responsibility of the governments there to rehabilitate the workers and their children to new jobs through training.

But USA, China, India and Australia are extracting coal to meet their energy demand. USA extracts 1000 million tonnes annually, India 450 million tonnes, China 2400 million tonnes, Indonesia 160 million tonnes, Australia 300 million tonnes, South Africa 230 million tonnes and Colombia 100 million tonnes. These countries are extracting coal and ensuring the jobs for their communities. In Bangladesh, the community must be compensated and rehabilitated properly and sensitively.

(continued)

Source:http://www.ep-bd.com/

Date: 01-15 MAY 2008, Bangladesh

Multilateral Environmental Agreement List <mea-l@lists.iisd.ca>

MEA Bulletin - Issue No. 50

IISD RS is pleased to announce that the newest issue of MEA Bulletin is now available.

The 50th issue of MEA Bulletin includes reports on recent discussions in the UN General Assembly on private investment's role in mitigating climate change, and a meeting on "Operational Modalities for Future Work of the International Tropical Timber Council."

The guest article was authored by K. Madhava Sarma, former Executive Secretary, UNEP Ozone Secretariat, & Durwood Zaelke, President, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development.

"Start, then Strengthen: The Importance of Immediate Action for Climate Mitigation" suggests taking immediate action "to learn what works best to limit climate emissions and enhance sinks, and to build confidence to strengthen efforts in the future," and identifies a number of actions on which to focus in the near term.

MEA Bulletin is a publication created by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme's Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (UNEP DELC).

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011382628

Egypt Hopeful Of Positive Inter-African Relations

Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - Egypt is hoping that their relationship with other African nations can continue to improve, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said ahead of the opening of the African Union (AU) summit being held in Sharm El Sheikh. The foreign minister said his government would boost inter-African relations. "Africa has always been a focus of the Egyptian foreign policy," Aboul Gheit said in remarks carried by Egypt's official news agency MENA. He added that African countries are a "natural extension of Egypt's national security." The AU summit, to be held from June 24 - June 30 will concentrate on the current international food crisis, issues of water and health care status in African nations.

Climate change, desertification and the decrease in crop productivity across the continent will also top the agenda of African leaders.

(continued)

Earth Negotiations Bulletin <enb@lists.iisd.ca>

CLIMATE-L.ORG Bulletin

Please find our press release for the first issue of IISD’s CLIMATE-L.ORG Bulletin, featuring a guest article by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which will be distributed exclusively on the CLIMATE-L listserv

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomes IISD’s new tool for climate change policymakers

NEW YORK— June 23, 2008—The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in collaboration with the United Nations Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) Secretariat, has launched a new tool for climate change policymakers.

The CLIMATE-L.ORG Project is a knowledge management website and electronic newsletter that provides information to decision makers on the actions of international organizations in responding to the problem of global climate change.
In one location, (http://www.climate-l.org) users can find the most up-to-date knowledge-base on climate-related actions throughout the international community, and, specifically, the latest information on United Nations activities provided in cooperation with the UN system agencies, funds and programmes through the UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) Secretariat http://www.unsystemceb.org/

The CLIMATE-L.ORG Bulletin will contain the key précis and summaries posted to www.CLIMATE-L.org during the previous two weeks, along with guest articles on international climate change activities, written by the heads of UN and other international bodies. IISD will contribute a fortnightly analysis of global activities on climate change, focusing on the inter-governmental negotiations for long-term cooperative action around the areas of adaptation, mitigation, technology and finance.

The first issue of the CLIMATE-L.ORG Bulletin features an essay by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon entitled, On the Way to Copenhagen.  In this article, the Secretary-General speaks of his vision for long-term collaborative action to combat climate change and the role of the United Nations in this effort.

“I have made it a personal priority to ensure that the United Nations plays its full role in this process, not only because climate change is just the kind of global challenge that the UN is best suited to address but also because of the clear moral imperative for bold, decisive and urgent action.,” Ban said, adding, “Our common priority is a deal in Copenhagen, on time, and in full. This bulletin is a welcome way to keep us in touch and on track as we each do our part to meet our collective obligation to realize this goal.”

The first issue of the CLIMATE-L.ORG Bulletin has been sent to the CLIMATE-L listserv and can be found at:  http://www.iisd.ca/climate-l/clob1.html

The content found at www.climate-l.org is provided by IISD’s Reporting Services team of Issue and Institutional Cluster Experts, working virtually from throughout the world and providing a constant stream of articles and updates on international climate change activities that are organized and searchable by actor, issue area and the four UNFCCC “building blocks” for a post-2012 climate change regime: mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology.
Policymakers following the Bali Roadmap negotiations can use this site to track progress in the various policy formulation streams. The CEB and international organizations will use this database to assist them in coordinating system-wide activities to combat climate change.

CLIMATE-L listserv marks first decade

The CLIMATE-L listserv, which was launched by IISD in 1998, is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a primary communications mechanism for more than 18,000 professionals in the climate policy community. IISD Reporting Services will use this existing network to distribute the fortnightly electronic newsletter, CLIMATE-L.ORG Bulletin.

“We expect CLIMATE-L.ORG to quickly become one of the policy community’s primary sources of information on climate change,” said Langston James Goree VI, Director of IISD's Reporting Services.

“With so much information and so many activities throughout the world on the issue, it is essential to have a single knowledge-source that can deliver what policymakers need, particularly as we move through the next few years of intense international negotiations on the issue,” Goree said.

The CLIMATE-L.ORG Project has financial support from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the IISD and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC).

About IISD

The International Institute for Sustainable Development is a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization with a team of 60 employees based in Winnipeg (our head office), Ottawa, Geneva and New York and an additional 90 interns, writers, and researchers in 30 countries around the world. At its core, IISD supports the integration of economic, social and environmental considerations into decision-making. Its vision is better living for all—sustainably; its mission, to champion innovation, enabling societies to live sustainably. www.iisd.org and www.iisd.ca .

For more information please contact Langston Goree at kimo@iisd.org or at 1-917-293-4781.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI
Director, IISD Reporting Services
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) -- United Nations Office
300 E 56th St. Apt. 11A - New York, NY 10022
IISDRS Office phone: +1 646 536 7556 Direct Line: +1 973 273 5860
Fax: +1 646 219-0955 Mobile phone/SMS: +19172934781
Blog: http://www.kimogoree.com Skype: kimogoree
Email: kimo@iisd.org MS Messenger: kimo@iisd.org
Where: NYC till 28 June, Bonn 30, Doha 2-3 July, 4 Dubai, 6 Bangkok, 7-8 Seoul, NY rest of July

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/fsb/0806/gallery.plot_save_planet.fsb/index.html

Selling green

In his new book The Plot to Save the Planet, Fortune Small Business editorial director Brian Dumaine chronicles how entrepreneurs are tapping into what could be the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century: clean, money-saving technology.

Electrifying rides

For the first time since the early 20th century, America is seeing a flowering of entrepreneurship in the auto industry. Today at least 15 new electric-car companies, each working on a wide range of technologies, have launched or plan to launch models.

Phoenix Motorcars, based in Ontario, Calif., will sell its electric pickup trucks and SUVs by the end of 2008. Its 4,800-pound truck can go 100 miles on a five-hour charge from a home outlet or on a ten-minute one at a special charging station. Its electric pickup will cost $47,500, about $10,000 more than the price of a comparable conventional pickup. PG&E, the California utility, has ordered four of the vehicles. At first the company will lose money on each truck it makes, but it is counting on California clean-energy subsidies to keep it rolling until the price of its battery technology falls.

(continued)

Read on for more about Think Global's U.S. plans.

PRESS RELEASE TO MARK WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION,
17th JUNE 2008.

The world and Africa in particular is facing serious challenges in the area of environmental degradation. The most important and prominent challenge facing Africa today is desertification and climate change. It has been practically observed that the desert is encroaching at a very alarming speed in most African countries. The most noticeable causal agents are climate change and human activities in form of indiscriminate felling of trees, bush burning, poor land management practices etc. The demand for energy and other human needs have made people go beyond the limit of exploiting forest resources. This consequently exposes the environment to agents of denudation like strong winds and running water which further degrade the environment and set the stage for desertification.

The escalation in the emission of green house gases (GHG) has resulted in warmer climates globally, particularly in Africa, where global warming has resulted in shortage of rainfall and high temperatures which are ideal for several tropical diseases like cerebro spinal meningitis, measeles etc. Desertification as a result of climatic changes and human influence on the environment, is continuously threatening our major occupations of farming and animal rearing by gradually taking over our farm and grazing lands thereby causing decrease in crop yields, lessening the protein quality in animals due to fall in fodder quality and quantity.

The moving sand dunes that have taken over our lands have also induced rural-urban migration which in turn results to so many social vices in our major cities.

We, the inhabitants of tropical Africa south of Sahara, have to contribute immensely in areas carbon clean development mechanism. As we know trees use some of the GHG like carbon dioxide to manufacture food and give out clean oxygen air for use by humans and animals. It is also a known fact that areas with denser forest cover have a higher rate of rainfall than areas with limited tree cover.

We should therefore, imbibe the culture of planting and maintaining trees and also put a stop to indiscriminate felling of trees, while Government on its part should provide simple and affordable alternative sources of energy like the coal stove, solar cookers, improved wood stoves etc; and at the same time enforce stringent measures to protect our fragile forest resources, all in an effort to mitigate climate change for sustainable development. Looking at the rate at which the desert is encroaching, We also each African to plant and maintain at least 3 trees every year in an effort to make our environment better and combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture.

Umar Danladi Dahiru
Executive Director
Africa Desertification Control Initiative
110 Court Road, Gyadi Gyadi
PO Box 14308, Kano, Nigeria
Tel: +2348053305562, +2348023040102

http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=135743

World day to combat desertification and drought

This year’s celebration of the world day is very important since the adoption of the 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention represents a turning point in the UNCCD process and curb desertification..

CJ: Ravi Joshi

JUNE 17, THE world day to combat desertification, constitutes a unique occasion to remind everybody that desertification can be effectively tackled. The theme of this year’s world day to combat desertification and drought, “Desertification and climate change — one global challenge,” reminds us that climate change and desertification interact with each other at a variety of levels. They are two major manifestations of the same problem. And together they seriously threaten our ability to reach the millennium development goals by 2015.

]]> http://desertification.wordpress.com/?p=3155 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:40:18 +0000 willem van cotthem http://desertification.wordpress.com/?p=3155 Read at : Google Alert - desertification

http://www.commodityonline.com/commodities/cereal/Combating-land-degradation-for-sustainable-agriculture-9522-3.html

Combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture

By Kalpana Palkhiwala

The World Day to Combat Desertification is celebrated every year on June 17 all over the world in order to highlight the urgent need to curb the process of desertification and to strengthen the visibility of this serious drylands issue on the international environmental agenda. 17 June constitutes a unique occasion to remind everybody that desertification can be effectively tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and co-operation at all levels. The theme of this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, “Desertification and Climate Change — One Global Challenge”, reminds us that climate change and desertification interact with each other at a variety of levels. They are two major manifestations of the same problem. And together they seriously threaten our ability to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Another environmental issue of growing urgency today is climate change. This is reflected in the theme for this year’s World Day, which focuses on the important synergy between desertification and climate change. The Day will draw attention to the significant benefits of an integrated approach to tackling these two major environmental challenges.

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17 the “World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought” to promote public awareness and the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa.

Ever since, country parties to the Convention, organizations of the United Nations System, international and non-governmental organizations and other interested stakeholders have celebrated this particular day with a series of outreach activities worldwide.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only internationally recognized, legally binding instrument that addresses the problem of land degradation in the drylands and which enjoys a truly universal membership of 193 country parties. It plays a key role in global efforts to eradicate poverty, achieve sustainable development and reach the Millennium Development Goals, in particular with regard to the eradication of extreme poverty. As we approach the halfway stage in the timetable for achieving these goals, the need to fully implement the Convention is becoming increasingly urgent.

The objective of this Convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. The long-term integrated strategies will improve productivity, rehabilitation and conservation particularly at the community level.

The principles of this convention are to achieve the objectives of this Convention and to implement its provisions, the member countries i.e. parties implement programmes with the participation of populations and local communities in a spirit of international solidarity and partnership to work towards sustainable development.

This year’s celebration is very important since the adoption of the 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention represents a turning point in the UNCCD process and recognizes the convention as an instrument to prevent, control and reverse desertification/land degradation and also to contribute to the reduction of poverty while promoting sustainable development.

The Convention is the only internationally recognized, legally binding instrument that addresses the problem of land degradation in dryland. It enjoys a truly universal membership of 193 parties.

Country parties, organizations of the United Nations System, international and non-governmental organizations are invited to organize events to celebrate the World Day to Combat Desertification as an additional opportunity to increase awareness and participation in the implementation process.

The Secretary-General’s message says, “Desertification is not only one of the world’s greatest environmental challenges; it is also a major impediment to meeting basic human needs in drylands. It puts at risk the health and well-being of 1.2 billion people in more than 100 countries. World’s Two thirds of the poor live in drylands, about half in farm households where environmental degradation threatens the agricultural production on which their livelihoods depend.

The causes of desertification are varied and complex. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, adopted 13 years ago, aims to promote concrete action through innovative local, national, sub-regional and regional programmes and supportive international partnerships. However, degradation of the global environment continues at an alarming pace which makes implementation of the Convention ever more urgent.

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are causing our world to get warmer. We are already experiencing the impact of climate change, with adverse effects felt in many areas. And for people living in dry areas, especially in Africa, changing weather patterns threaten to exacerbate desertification, drought and food insecurity.

(continued)

Kalpana Palkhiwala is an Assistant Director ( M & C) of PIB, New Delhi

Courtesy: www.pib.nic.in

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Time_to_pay_attention_to_land_degradation_UNCCD_/articleshow/3131569.cms

Time to pay attention to land degradation: UNCCD

I couldn't agree more with Mr. Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD : as land degradation is closely linked with climate change, it poses a serious global challenge and addressing both the atmosphere and the land is a key factor to solve the looming food crisis.

The most remarkable observation is that many success stories and best practices of combating land degradation are well-known, but no significant initiatives are taken to apply them at a larger scale.  Nothing would be more easy than to show that these traditional methods, combined with cost-effective technologies, adapted to the specific local conditions, can bring a dramatic reverse in the situation of land degradation.

Enhancing the water retention capacity of the soil, sustainable conditioning of the soil, improving the organic matter content of the soil, improving the biomass production in the drylands, installing protective "greenhouses" in degraded areas, diversification of water harvesting, multiplying the use of drought tolerant species and varieties, introduction of beneficial micro-organisms in the soil, are but a few of the tested and accepted methods to regenerate fertile soils in otherwise infertile regions.

What is creating the hesitation of decision-makers to go for a "full" and large-scale application of these technologies and methods ?

Is it a question of financial resources ?  Looking at the enormous amount of money that is spent for gigantic projects, it is hard to believe that "cost" would be the limiting factor.

I am still believing in a "green" future, because once the day will come ...

http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/19338

Soil: an important resource to safeguard - Stavros Dimas

Source: European Commission

Published Thursday, 12 June, 2008

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Brussels today to discuss the relationship between soil and climate change. The very large attendance of more than 400 people from almost all Member States and beyond, including at high political level is a clear reflection of the enormous interest in the subject. It shows an increased awareness of the need to address soil conservation and management in the light of climate change.

At the outset, I want to thank Mr Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, for acting as today's Chairman. Mr Gnacadja will surely remind us that very low soil organic matter levels are among the key factors that contribute to desertification, and of the consequences of desertification for the lives of so many of the world's poorest people. But why should we in Europe be so concerned by the relationship between soil and climate change?

The key is "soil organic matter". As you in this audience well know, soil organic matter is an extremely precious resource that performs essential functions for the environment and for the economy, and it can do so because it is a whole ecosystem at a microscopic scale.

Organic matter is a major contributor to soil fertility. It is the elixir of life, particularly plant life, as it binds nutrients to the soil, thus ensuring their availability to plants. It is the home for soil organisms, from bacteria to worms and insects, and allows them to transform plant residues, and hold on to nutrients that can be taken up by plants and crops. It also maintains soil structure, thereby improving water infiltration, decreasing evaporation, increasing water holding capacity and avoiding soil compaction. In addition, soil organic matter accelerates the break down of pollutants and can bind them to its particles, so reducing the risk of run-off.

But this is not all. Equally important is that soil organic matter is the second biggest carbon pool in the planet after the oceans. In the EU alone there are more than 70 billion tonnes of organic carbon in our soils. This is a huge amount if we bear in mind that the Member States of the European Union altogether emit approximately 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon annually. Indeed, releasing to the atmosphere just a small fraction of that carbon currently stocked in our soils runs the risk of wiping out all the savings that other sectors of the economy are achieving in order to contain anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This is not a theoretical scenario, unfortunately, and some of the scientists who will speak here today will present data suggesting that large amounts of carbon from soil organic matter have indeed already been lost to the atmosphere in the recent past.

You may wonder, what is causing this loss of soil organic matter? This conference today will certainly provide some answers to this question but there appear to be several varied factors contributing to losses of carbon from soils.

Long term changes in land management practices driven essentially by changing economic circumstances may be among them. We have, for instance, over the past century or so, completely mechanised and streamlined many of our farming systems, specialising production and simplifying management. In making these changes, most of which have brought strong socio-economic benefits, we have taken our eyes off what is happening to soil. Land management approaches, largely not related to soil management, have played centre role in expanding productivity. It now appears, that slow and gradual reductions in soil organic matter may have taken place, almost insignificant in themselves at field level but very significant when taken as a whole in terms of carbon emissions. The atmosphere, of course, makes no distinction regarding the origin of carbon dioxide insofar as climate change is concerned.

This has to lead us firstly to examine thoroughly if and where soil organic matter is declining throughout our territories, then to establish approaches to redress the situation and to implement these approaches so that soil not only retains its organic matter but, – where possible – becomes a sink for more carbon and therefore contributes to the fight against global warming.

But long term changes in land management are not the full picture. Changes in rainfall patterns and increases in average temperatures brought about by climate change are also playing a role. A rise in global temperature accelerates carbon losses from the soil, driving up the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The changes in rainfall patterns will, of course, additionally contribute to an increase in erosion in vulnerable soils which often, themselves, suffer from low organic matter content. Climate change will thus put further pressure on soil quality and will increase the risk of desertification, which is already affecting the southern Member States and is expected to move gradually northward.

It is therefore more urgent than ever to act in favour of appropriate policies and practices that favour maintaining or even increasing soil organic matter levels. If we manage to do that – and we have to do it now! – we have at our disposal a formidable tool for sequestering carbon and supporting the achievement of the targets we have set ourselves to combat climate change. The more organic carbon we keep in or add to the soil, the less carbon dioxide we will have in the atmosphere.

This will not only mitigate global warming, it will also diminish desertification risks, thereby sustaining agricultural production and allowing us to keep feeding the ever growing world population. In this context, the current world food crisis is of particular relevance. The Commission recently presented a Communication on this subject acknowledging the many causes of the current problem. These include increased demand for commodities and decreased supply due largely to weather related production shortfalls in several regions of the world. Forecasts for future long term trends in climate all indicate greater droughts in some areas and more rainfall – even too much – in others. It is clear that we can expect weather related supply difficulties to reoccur in coming decades. Long term soil management has a role to play in countering such difficulties. Soil organic matter can absorb up to twenty times its weight in water and so can play a positive part in mitigating the impacts of more extreme rainfall intensity and more frequent and severe droughts.

Therefore, preserving and increasing soil organic matter levels to the extent possible can be a significant tool in mitigating climate change, securing our food supply, and combating desertification. And our efforts will not only improve the situation in Europe, as – I am sure – they will contribute to solving these problems at the global level as well

Human actions taken without awareness of their long term global consequences are clearly at the root of climate change. The good news is that it is in our power to modify this situation and to address climate change! For soil organic matter, as our knowledge grows, we can develop the opportunities to take corrective action for the benefit of sustainable agriculture, for nature protection and to mitigate climate change.

For example, recent reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy have begun to take steps in this direction.

Moreover, it is partly for this reason that the Commission has proposed ground breaking legislation for soil. This aims – for the first time in the European Union – at protecting soil and the crucial functions it plays – including acting as a carbon pool. The European Parliament has understood fully the importance of the proposal and adopted it, strongly emphasising the need for protecting soils against the negative effects of climate change. Now the Council needs to move forward on this file, because we cannot afford to waste time and allow that more and more soil organic matter goes up – literally – in smoke. This is a problem with at least a European if not a worldwide dimension, which needs a European solution.

Furthermore, in autumn will present a White Paper on adaptation to climate change. It will show the importance of increasing the resilience of soil to climate change and how a healthy soil, sufficiently rich in organic matter, will allow our entire society and economy to better adapt to the impacts of climate change. I will ensure that the outcome of this conference will feed into the Commission's thinking on the relationship between soil policies and climate change mitigation and adaptation. I express the hope that you will do the same at the national or regional level.

I began by thanking Mr Gnacadja for acting as chairman; my thanks also go to the high-level European and non-European speakers who have travelled from as far as Brazil or the United States to come and present the results of their research. I am a believer in the need for policies to be based on sound scientific advice, and today's conference represents a golden opportunity for the scientific community to make its voice heard.

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Members of the European Parliament, of the European Economic and Social Committee, to the President of the Environment Council, to the Portuguese Secretary of State and to the Environment Minister of Iceland for accepting my invitation to participate in the panel discussion that will close the conference. I am sure they will take stock of today's deliberations and will present their valuable views on the policy perspectives in front of us

I firmly hope that this conference will bring to the attention of a wider audience the scientific elements that underpin the EU's action in the fields of soil protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation. I am confident that it will also prove to be an important milestone in the difficult road leading to a better understanding of the role that soil plays in the global ecosystem and the need for greater efforts to ensure and protect that role.

African SD Policy Makers <africasd-l@lists.iisd.ca>

MEA Bulletin - Issue No. 49

IISD RS is pleased to announce that the newest issue of MEA Bulletin is now available. To access the 49th issue directly, click here. To read past issues and to sign up to receive the PDF version, click here.

Romina Picolotti, Argentina’s Minister of Environment, authored the guest article entitled “Fast and Furious: Early Agreement on Fair and Equitable Financing is Key to Post-2012 Treaty.” She argues that successful climate change policy implementation requires a strong financial mechanism for promoting technology innovation and diffusion to developing countries, identifies features of a successful mechanism, and suggests reaching agreement, now, on such a financial mechanism.

The 49th issue of MEA Bulletin also includes reports on recent meetings of the: Bureau of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Stockholm Convention; Ramsar Standing Committee; Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP9; and Biodiversity Liaison Group.

MEA Bulletin is a publication created by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (UNEP DELC).

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=128861

Challenges of global warming: call to enhance forestation in country

KARACHI: Speakers at a seminar on "Challenges of Global Warming" urged the government to enhance forestation in the country to avoid the adverse affects of global warming besides taking immediate measures to overcome pollution in urban areas. The seminar on "Challenges of Global Warming", was organised by Memon Professional Forum (MPF) in collaboration with Institute of Engineers Pakistan (IEP), Karachi Centre, at IEP Auditorium. Renowned environmentalist and former Director General PCSIR (Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), Dr Mirza Arshad Ali Baig said that the global warming was severely affecting the human life on the planet.

He said men-made interventions causing changes in natural cycles and erratic variations in climate that result in increase in Carbon Dioxide concentration, alteration in hot-balance, melting of glaciers, sea-level rise and progressive inundation of low-lying areas. Mirza maintained the climate variation interface with all major components on earth, like land, sea, mountains etc and cause variations in their natural phenomenon. He said that Pakistan was facing extremes impact of these variations in the form of changes in monsoon pattern and storms and cyclones, including cyclone O2A in May 1999 and floods in 2003 in coastal belt of Badin and cyclone Guno and Yemyin in June 2007.

He was of the view that tectonic movement of earth-plates, which caused massive earthquake disaster in October 2005, was also a consequence of global warming and anti-environment practices.

Terming the deforestation a major cause of global warming, Mirza said forestry has been registering a negative growth since last three years in the country, adding it was occurred at the rate of 800 sq. km., 0.2-0.5 percent per annum, which effects over 43 million acres of land annually. The deforestation was a main motive of expansion of heat-zone, low flow in Indus and shrinkage of Indus Delta.

He added that three to fours km glaciers have already been retreated in Eastern Himalayas, while the glaciers at its western end, the Pakistani side, were consolidating rather than melting. Executive Member of Shehri-CBE, Sameer Dodhi, said that his organisation is documenting all amenity and open spaces in 18 towns and cantonment areas of Karachi to ensure whether these public spaces are being utilised as were planned or not. He said that the documentation has almost completed while the NGO is maintaining picture-record of these places, adding the compiled report on the current status of such places would be made public by the end of this year. Dodhi said Shehri was not against the development, but believes that the development process should facilitate all segments of the society and not be carried out at the cost of environment.

Urging the government to increase the forestation in the country, he said studies have proved that 10 percent increase in green space might reduce the area temperature upto four-degree centigrade. It has also proved that tree-lined streets also lessen the chances of asthma, he added. Dodhi was worried on constant decrease in Mangroves in the coastal belt of Karachi, terming them a safety wall that act as lungs and purify air in coastal areas.

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