Scientists can help advance policies to promote agricultural practices that can reduce emissions and boost yields.

Climate change adaptation initiatives can be built into water management programmes to protect water resources in Africa.

Integrating wastewater into water resources management can help improve water security and quality.

Traditional knowledge can inform strategies for improving nutrition and help vulnerable populations cope with environmental change.

Better land and water management could improve yields and help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Providing more and diverse water storage infrastructure is crucial to securing reliable water supplies in the face of climate change.

Research into deforestation can help inform policies to reduce carbon emissions from forests.

Tackling forest degradation is an essential element for any global climate deal hoping to reduce forest emissions.

Agriculture, forestry and other land uses in Africa can help mitigate climate change while providing co-benefits.

Involving local communities in biodiversity protection from the outset can boost both conservation and empowerment of local people.

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.

Biodiversity in the world's drylands is fragile, easily disrupted and under threat. John Lemons sets out guidelines for tailoring policies to best protect these uniquely adapted species.

Some environmental researchers take the view that species-rich ecosystems function better than those that are species-poor. Others disagree. Shahid Naeem assesses the arguments.