Conference on desertification

COUNTRIES that are party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) are meeting in Madrid, Spain, for the Convention’s eighth Conference of Parties.

At present, 191 countries are party to UNCCD, according to the United Nations Information Centre in Windhoek. The conference started yesterday and will run until Friday next week.It will provide a forum for presentation of the highly anticipated 10-year strategic plan and framework for the UNCCD unto 2018.UNCCD Officer in Charge Gregorian de Kalbermatten said: “The 10-year strategic plan came at a significant time on the eve of the 16th and 17th sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, which will focus on Africa, agriculture, rural development, land degradation, desertification and drought.”Desertification affects nearly one quarter of the earth’s land area and about one sixth of the world’s population.The conference started yesterday and will run until Friday next week.It will provide a forum for presentation of the highly anticipated 10-year strategic plan and framework for the UNCCD unto 2018.UNCCD Officer in Charge Gregorian de Kalbermatten said: “The 10-year strategic plan came at a significant time on the eve of the 16th and 17th sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, which will focus on Africa, agriculture, rural development, land degradation, desertification and drought.”Desertification affects nearly one quarter of the earth’s land area and about one sixth of the world’s population.