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Agriculture & Environment: Desert science

cattleherdingDesertIndia_Hnull

Two billion people live in drylands, where extraordinary biodiversity exists next to grinding poverty. Modern farming and climate change suggest that the future of drylands may be less stable than in the past.

(Photo credit: H. Null)

Opinions and Analysis

Atacama desert in Chile Dryland development needs science and sustainability

Sustainably developing drylands means balancing local knowledge, science and conflicting demands, says Elena María Abraham.

30 April 2009 | EN

Western China is an arid area Protect grasslands to stop sandstorms in eastern China

Better grassland protection and more targeted funding in rural China are needed to reduce the risk of sandstorms, argues Jiang Gaoming.

2 May 2007 | EN | 中文
Source: China Dialogue

Policy Briefs

two african children People, deserts and drylands in the developing world

Growing dryland populations are depleting their natural resources, while increasingly-settled agriculture ignores the traditional knowledge needed to tackle future uncertainties, says David Thomas.

1 October 2006 | EN

UNCCD2 The UN Convention to Combat Desertification

Ten years since the UNCCD came into force, the problems remain. Despite some successes, varying definitions and restricted finance limit the convention's effectiveness, as Lindsay Stringer explains.

1 October 2006 | EN


News and Features

Arab environment 'under threat'

Arab states are facing many challenges, such as water scarcity and desertification, that will worsen with climate change, says a report.

10 March 2009 | EN

Desertification reversed in northern Ethiopia

Researchers have concluded that, with the right policies in place, coaxing a severely degraded region back into recovery is possible.

6 February 2009 | EN

Restoring Tanzania's ecosystems

26 March 2008 | EN
Source: Transformations Quarterly