Desert Science Collections at Science DevNet

SciDev.Net website, the comprehensive portal of science in developing countries maintained by SCience magazine has published a collection of articles on deserts and drylands in its online desert science resource. These include peer-reviewed policy briefs written by leading stakeholders on issues such as human impact, access to water, conservation of biodiversity and the role of international conventions.

As land degradation and desertification is a common environmental challenge in all Arab countries I think these articles will prove useful for a wide array of stakeholders.

The dossier can be found here

www.scidev.net/desertscience

One of the main articles in the dissier is a policy brief about the effectiveness of the UNCCD. There is much debate over the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and whether it can achieve its purpose — to mitigate the effects of drought and support sustainable development in drylands. It is ten years since the UNCCD came into force, yet poverty and land degradation continue to affect sizeable areas and large numbers of people throughout the world. SciDev.Net takes a look at the successes and limitations of the UNCCD.
In a peer-reviewed policy brief, Lindsay Stringer discusses how and why the UNCCD started, its aims, how it operates, and the role of science within the convention.

The dossier was produced in collaboration with a panel of experts and with the support of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)