UN marks World Day to Combat Desertification, focusing on women's contributions

Desertification and drought cause losses in agricultural production of $42 billion a year and women must be empowered to address this environmental challenge, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today, in a message marking the World Day to combat both adversities.

The theme of this year's observance is "Women and Desertification," Mr. Annan noted, adding that "in many of the world's dry agricultural areas, including much of Africa, it is traditionally women who devote time and effort to the land."

In developing countries, women form about 70 per cent of agricultural labour and produce 60 to 80 per cent of the food, as well as process, manage and market it, he said.

From this experience they have seen land degradation close at hand and have acquired valuable knowledge, but with men controlling land and livestock, women are often excluded from land conservation and development projects, agricultural extension work and the policy-making process, Mr. Annan said.

In many countries, however, women are beginning to own land and take part in decision-making, he said. On this day, "let us all pledge to do our part in empowering women and engaging them as full partners in global efforts to address this vital challenge."

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said the 191 States Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are preparing for the "International Year of Deserts and Desertification 2006" during which they will profile land degradation as a major threat to humanity, especially when intensified by climate change and loss of biodiversity.

Drylands constitute about 41 per cent of the Earth's surface and support more than 2 billion people. Between 10 and 20 per cent of drylands are degraded or unproductive, UNCCD says.

Several UN institutions joined in launching a desertification analysis called the "Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Synthesis" (MA) today, in response to queries from governments. It pulls together the work of four research groups comprising 1,360 experts from around the world.

"Desertification must be fought at all levels, but this battle must ultimately be won at the local level. There is evidence that success is possible," UNCCD Executive Secretary Hama Arba Diallo said in the foreword.

UNEP, in cooperation with the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), awards "Saving the Drylands" certificates to communities that successfully and sustainably prevent or reverse desertification. It said it has received more than 100 developing country submissions since the programme began in 1994.