Reasons to rename the UNCCD: Review of transformation of the political concept through the influence of science

Nikolai Dronin ()
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Nikolai Dronin: Moscow State University

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2023, vol. 25, issue 3, No 3, 2058-2078

Abstract: Abstract This review focuses on the role of science-policy interactions in the transformation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from being narrow (region specific) environmental agreement to a position of global stewardship of land resources. Desertification as an environmental issue first appeared on the international agenda in the late 1970s as a reaction to the devastating Sahel droughts in 1969–1973. There was general agreement in both scientific and political circles regarding the existence of a negative global trend in drylands caused mostly by human factors. In the 1990s pioneer studies, based on remote sensing, had discovered that the Sahel was “re-greening” due to some increase in precipitation while the effects of human activity were small in scale and not always negative. The new global satellite-based assessment–GLADA–showed that most degraded lands were located in humid climates but not in drylands. These findings have been generally accepted by the UNCCD leadership, and the term “land degradation” has gained prominence over “desertification” as the former is not associated with specific geographical conditions. The thematic area of the UNCCD is also gradually expanding due to the assimilation of new concepts such as “ecosystem services,” MDGs and SDGs. By successfully promoting adoption SDGs 15.3 on “Land Degradation Neutrality,” the UNCCD strengthens its position among the other Rio Conventions–UNFCCC and UNCBD.

Keywords: Desertification; Land degradation; UNCCD; GLASOD; Global assessment; Remote sensing; Sahel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02149-1

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