UN official urges renewed action on desertification

A UN official on Tuesday called for national governments, multilateral agencies and industries to revitalize actions against desertification.

Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), said rapid spread of deserts linked to climate change and human actions could derail war on poverty, hunger and disease.

"New strategies are required to help countries halt land degradation that has direct link to droughts, conflicts and forced migration," Barbut said.

She made the comments in Nairobi during a high-level summit to discuss a 12-year UN strategy that seeks to revitalize global action on desertification.

According to the UNCCD, 12 million hectares of land are lost to desertification every year across the globe and the figure could rise due to population growth, climatic pressures and unsustainable farming practices.

Barbut stressed that political goodwill coupled with increased financing toward climate change mitigation and adaptation are key to slowing down the spread of deserts.

"We must pay attention to destruction of forests and wetlands that is fueling desertification. Other measures include investment in large-scale early warning systems," said Barbut.

She added that the international community has placed efforts to halt desertification at the center of the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

"At present, 102 countries have already endorsed the 2018-2030 strategy to combat desertification. There is more political interest on desertification and countries are putting strong measures to manage this threat," Barbut said. Endit