ENV/DEV/378

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY'S 'GRUDGING COMMITMENT' TO FUNDING IS MAJOR ISSUE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, INCD TOLD

There was no doubt, the OAU representative concluded, that a detailed appraisal of the actions taken would provide a clearer picture of the current concerns of many African countries and their institutions. The OAU intended to carry out such an appraisal by January 1997 when the tenth session of the INCD convenes.

More specifically, the representative of Morocco said his country had taken many steps, such as developing plans for reforestation and forest protection, but there was a need to consolidate those and similar efforts with genuine international support. The representative of Madagascar described activities to develop a national action programme, for example, by designating the Secretary of State for the Environment as the focal point for the national effort to combat desertification, but she said the Government's resources were insufficient, and international assistance was required. The representative of the Sudan said that, for the first time in that country, celebrations of the World Day to Combat Desertification had taken place on the grass-roots level, and maps had been produced showing the status and magnitude of desertification in the Sudan.

Among the donor countries that spoke, the representative of Japan said his country had been researching the process of recovery and restoration of vegetation in the Niger River Basin, and that project would soon be extended to Mali and Burkina Faso. Stressing the need to protect vegetation cover, the representative of Finland said that country was funding projects in nine African countries -- in particular, programmes to combat deforestation on a local level. Urging the use of radio to disseminate information about the

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Convention to the people concerned, the representative of Canada said her country had supported a radio programme to tell farmers concrete measures they could take to combat desertification.

Also speaking this afternoon were the representatives of Tunisia, France, Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Central African Republic, Mauritania and South Africa, speaking on behalf of the Valdivia Group. Other statements were made by representatives of the European Commission, the Permanent Inter-States Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. Thursday to continue to discuss urgent action for Africa and interim actions in Asian, Latin American and the Caribbean, and the northern Mediterranean regions.

Committee Work Programme

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the Elaboration of the Convention to Combat Desertification met this afternoon to continue consideration of urgent action for Africa and interim actions in Asian, Latin American and the Caribbean, and the northern Mediterranean regions.

Statements

ABDUSLAM KALLALA (Tunisia) reported that last March Tunisia had sponsored a meeting of various bodies relevant to the desertification question in Africa, in an attempt to coordinate efforts on that continent. It had hosted another meeting called "Partners against Desertification", with the same objectives. In addition, Tunisia had been working with other countries in the Middle East on desertification and water-use issues. It had also established an international centre of environment technology to come up with new technologies to help in the battle against desertification. The Tunisian President had recently convened a conference to promote the Convention in his country. Among the conclusions reached at that meeting were the need for a well-articulated national strategy on desertification, as well as the creation of an interdisciplinary group to coordinate the efforts of the non- governmental organizations.

TALEB BENSOUDA-KORACHI (Morocco) said his country had taken legislative and organizational measures to combat desertification. It had created an environmental ministry and a national committee to combat desertification. It had developed plans for reforestation and forest protection and to combat drought through work with dams and irrigation. There was a new law for regulating agriculture which focused on partnership with local communities. There was a need to consolidate those and similar efforts with genuine international support. He urged the Committee to hold meetings to promote the distribution of knowledge about what was happening in other affected countries.

BERTRAND GALTIER (France) suggested that the types of support needed be clarified. France had put into effect programmes to promote greater dynamism at the regional level and stimulate South-South cooperation. Based on its efforts in Chad, a key problem was establishing cooperation between international donors or lenders and local communities. Although there was vast knowledge about desertification, it was not being fully used in practice. There was also a need to develop a better idea of the future effects of desertification and of its socio-economic impact. France could create a national scientific committee for research in the field. He urged the holding of a seminar in Africa to explore the question of funding for desertification efforts.

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TAKAO SHIBATA (Japan) said the Japan Agricultural Land Development Agency had, since 1985, been researching the process of recovery and restoration of vegetation in the Niger River Basin, as a way of avoiding further deterioration of desertified land. The studies indicate that the first step in combating desertification was to implement an agricultural scheme designed for the realities of a specific area. Although the pilot project was in the Niger, it would soon be extended to Mali and Burkina Faso. He said Japan was making available immediately some of the measures that had come up in the study.

He announced that a symposium on desertification would be held in Tokyo in which the results of the work at the Niger basin would be further spotlighted. He called attention to the Global Fund for Global Environment to promote and support grass-roots activities to support non-governmental organizations. Various projects relating to desertification were currently being supported by this fund. He said the country had also cooperated with China in the area of combating desertification.

ISABELLE VAN TOL (Netherlands) said statements made during the current session were giving the impression that more and more initiatives were being undertaken. In the Netherlands, a special division had been created for multiplying activities in the field of the environment, including desertification. In Senegal and Zimbabwe, the Netherlands had been active in working to implement the Convention, and it would be chef de file of efforts in Burkina Faso. When governments were ready to formulate national action plans, the Netherlands would be ready to help.

HOWARD BANSEY (Australia) noted that it was one of the few developed countries with an environment equivalent to that of Africa. Thus, it had developed a great deal of transferable technology, for example, in the area of land management. Handouts were available, giving more details of Australian technology.

ELTEGANI MOHAMED SALIH (Sudan) said there had been discussions in his country of the Convention and the Sudan five-year programme. Harmonization between the Convention and the five-year programme was essential. On 17 June 1996, the Sudan had celebrated for the second time the World Day to Combat Desertification. For the first time, the celebration had taken place on the grass-roots level, with significant participation by target groups and non- governmental organizations. Data had also been created and maps produced showing the status and magnitude of desertification in the Sudan. He hoped international organizations and donor countries would cooperate with the Sudan so that it could prepare its national action programme.

ANDRI BISAZ (Switzerland) said its commitment to dealing with desertification problems was evidenced by the projects it had financed. It would be useful if more were said by countries about their political efforts,

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for example, in the area of public participation. He was concerned that some affected countries had not given sufficient priority to desertification.

HERIVOLOLONA FALALARIMANANA (Madagascar) described activities to develop a national action programme, for example, by establishing a national coordination body and designating the Secretary of State for the Environment as the focal point for the national effort to combat desertification. The Government's resources were insufficient, however, and she requested international assistance.

SALLA KORPELA (Finland) said protection of the vegetation cover, including forests, should be an essential part of efforts to combat desertification. Finland was funding projects in nine African countries. In particular, it was funding deforestation on a local level, an approach it had found to be particularly sustainable. More work needed to be done in developing reliable criteria and indicators.

JOSEPH MBOLIDI (Central African Republic) had organized a day of consciousness-raising and undertaken other efforts to increase awareness of the Convention. A national forum would be held in the summer of 1997. International support was important. Details of the country's needs would be presented soon.

SALL BRAHIM (Mauritania) had begun a consultation of all stakeholders as part of a national awareness day. The national action programme was being elaborated using a participatory approach. Regional councils for development were being put into place, and a review of the concerned legal issues was being undertaken. It was honoured that it would be hosting a major meeting on desertification.

JAN SHELTINGA (Canada) had worked to promote the dissemination of information about the Convention. Those efforts included a newsletter and an internet web site. It had supported a radio programme to tell farmers concrete measures they could take to combat desertification. She stressed that radio was a very effective means of getting information to the people concerned. Canada was working in Africa to aid members of civil society in addressing their environmental concerns. Citing the slogan, "Think Globally, Act Locally", she said it was through local initiatives that the Convention could best be implemented.

LINDA GLATTHAAR (South Africa) said the Valdivia Group, comprised of members of the Group of Temperate Southern Hemisphere Countries on Environment and under the chairmanship of South Africa, were cooperating to address common land degradation and desertification problems. South Africa had set up a process to formulate a national action programme on desertification, and was negotiating with the German Government over that process. In addition, the country was working on the process of ratification of the Convention.

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MARCE VAN OPSTAL, representing the European Commission, said it was reviewing activities to combat desertification which were already under way. It was working to establish ways to better respond to the needs of affected countries and to work with agencies and donors. In the fall, it would be holding a scientific conference on Mediterranean desertification.

BANA IDE, of the CILSS: Permanent Inter-States Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, had held a dialogue between the national bodies which were to implement the Convention. That dialogue had helped countries understand the funding that was available and how to access it. Another meeting had helped in the preparation of relevant key indicators. Information was going to be made available in 15 Sahel languages. Financial needs were being assessed. Work was being done to build consensus for a subregional action programme.

Speaking on behalf of the seven IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) countries of East Africa, BERNARD K'OMUDHO, IGAD Chairman, said it would be impossible to achieve the objectives of the organization unless there was peace in the area. The IGAD had, therefore, restructured its secretariat to include a division of political and humanitarian affairs. Similarly, trade and tourism issues would now be tackled at subregional levels, as they were mutually supportive. The secretariat was mobilizing to promote education and public awareness on the Convention, which had been translated into Swahili, and would be translated to other major languages in the subregion as well. A subregional report on desertification had been prepared and would be the basis for spreading desertification information in the area.

Concerning the provision of financial resources for national action programmes and subregional action programmes, he suggested that attention should be paid to the conditions of the affected peoples. What was required were concrete measures and resources to facilitate the achievement of sustainable livelihoods for areas subjected to poor weather in Africa.

BOUBACAR TOURE, representing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stressed that the struggle against desertification could not be isolated from other developmental issues, such as the adjustment of the terms of trade between North and South. He said the FAO had contributed to several initiatives organized by Member States in the implementation of the Convention, and would continue to work with organizations within and outside the United Nations in the interest of the Convention.

He alerted the international community to the food crisis, which had to be addressed before it became intolerable. The Earth was one, and only our combined efforts could save it for future generations, he concluded.

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SAMUEL NYAMBI, of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said it had worked to provide catalytic technical and financial assistance to approximately 15 African countries. That assistance had included preparing an umbrella programme that involved institutional strengthening and capacity building, as well as coordination with subregional organizations. Such work had been done in coordination with other United Nations agencies and the Secretariat. In general, the UNDP provided catalytic seed resources and technical buffering.

Priority should be given to the national desertification forums, he said. He was concerned that in some countries there might not be sufficient empowerment to give the necessary authority to bring all parties into the planning process. It was important to come to grips with the challenge of building partnerships. Funding still remained inadequate in a number of countries which were trying to get the national action programme process under way.

VICTOR E. DJOMATCHOUA TOKO, representing the Organization of African Unity (OAU), called upon the international Community to lend real support to the initiatives which African subregional organizations had come up with to combat desertification. He warned that the grudging commitment of the international community to the implementation of the resolution on urgent action for Africa could adversely affect the credibility of efforts made so far. A detailed appraisal of the actions taken under the resolution would provide a clearer picture of the current concerns of many African countries and their institutions. The OAU would carry out such an appraisal by January 1997 when the tenth session convenes in New York.

The problems of drought and desertification had become such major areas of concern because of the negative influence on national development and ecological equilibrium, as well as the threat posed to local communities. He stressed that pervasive poverty in Africa was related to the process of drought and desertification, as they were often tied in with the efforts of people to win their livelihood from natural resources. He drew attention to the difficulty of the OAU to concentrate on issues of sustainable social and economic development in the face of the more political problems of peace and democracy.

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