Assessing the Impact of Science in the Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

Mariam Akhtar-Schuster, Lindsay C. Stringer, Graciela Metternicht, Nichole N. Barger, Jean-Luc Chotte and German Kust
Additional contact information
Mariam Akhtar-Schuster: DLR Projektträger, Sachsendamm 61, 10829 Berlin, Germany
Lindsay C. Stringer: Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
Graciela Metternicht: Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
Nichole N. Barger: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Jean-Luc Chotte: French National Institute Research for Sustainable Development, 34394 Montpellier, France
German Kust: Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Staromonetny Lane 29, 119017 Moscow, Russia

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: In 2013, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) established a science–policy interface (SPI) to address Parties’ need for demand-driven, timely, interdisciplinary science and technical knowledge to tackle problems of desertification, land degradation and drought. Since then, a comprehensive assessment of the SPI’s impacts on policy decision-making has been lacking, despite perceptions that the SPI is vital to the Convention’s success. Addressing this gap, this paper evaluates whether the SPI and its processes and outputs have provided the necessary scientific and technological knowledge and advice to Parties to support timely, evidence-informed decision-making. It applies an analytical framework to assess performance metrics, considering associated documents and evidence of societal relevance and social quality. The findings indicate that SPI outputs have improved implementation of the UNCCD since 2015, particularly in the context of Sustainable Development Goal Target 15.3. SPI outputs have supported scientific cooperation between the Convention and its strategic partners while enhancing its science and technology profile in line with Article 16 and Article 17. The findings indicate that further formalization of the SPI’s status within the UNCCD is vital to improve its functions, undertake its work, and enable the UNCCD to maintain its global lead in providing knowledge and advice on combating desertification, land degradation and drought.

Keywords: science–policy interface; desertification; land degradation; sustainable development goals (SDGs); knowledge management; UNCCD; sustainable land management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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