Water scarcity and land degradation are widespread problems that affect agricultural productivity, food security and environmental quality in several parts of the world, particularly in the dry areas. Sustainable management of soil and water is necessary to optimize the use of limited rainwater for crop production and to decrease soil erosion. One management option is utilizing rainfall more efficiently through water harvesting. In arid areas, different types of water harvesting techniques (WHT) are being developed by

Las ciudades de la región latinoamericana se expanden incontroladamente para atender la enorme demanda social de todos los niveles de ingreso. En este proceso irreversible de crecimiento demográfico y expansión urbana, las ciudades se convierten en ávidas consumidoras de recursos naturales, principalmente agua, que después de ser utilizada es vertida en un alto porcentaje sobre cauces a cielo abierto. También son vertidos todos los desechos sólidos o basura, residuos del consumo doméstico en comidas.

This brief is intended to inform government decision makers, agencies and specialist groups involved in rural development and revenue generation activities for communities and women

La desertificación/degradación de la tierra raramente está considerada como un tema económico, y la sequía rara vez como un desastre. Dado que la desertificación, la degradación de la tierra y la sequía son procesos lentos y sigilosos, su avance es subrepticio, y nos inducen a subestimar sus efectos socioeconómicos.

This publication is a baseline assessment reviewing the current knowledge of land degradation in the rangelands of Jordan - known as Badia - with a special focus on its causes. It includes a review of current legislation and on-going initiatives to combat land degradation, along with an analysis of the main constraints limiting their effectiveness.

The UNEP foresight report contains a description of the 21 emerging environmental issues identified through the UNEP Foresight Process. The process resulted in a list of 21 emerging environmental issues tagged 21 Issues for the 21st Century covering the major themes of the global environment including food, land, freshwater, marine, biodiversity, climate change, energy, waste, and technology, as well important cross-cutting issues ranging from the need for better environmental governance, to the need for human behavioral change towards the environment.

This report suggests that a new and explicit goal of sustainable development to be agreed as a result of Rio+20 should be the reduction of the rate of land degradation to achieve land degradation neutrality, which we refer to as “Zero Net Land Degradation” or ZNLD.

We recognize the economic and social significance of good land management, including soil, We stress that desertification, land degradation and drought are challenges of a global dimension and continue to pose serious challenges to the sustainable development of all countries, We recognize the need for urgent action to reverse land degradation. In view of this, we will strive to achieve a land-degradation neutral world in the context of sustainable development. Measuring Land degradation is a challenge ①Declining land-productivity ≠ Land degradation e.g.

The five components of the toolkit - Land, Extractive Industries, Renewable Resources, Strengthening Capacity & Resource-Rich Economies - all aim to demonstrate how well-managed natural resources can prevent conflict or contribute to peace and sustainable development in war-torn nations. The linkages between natural resources and violent conflict are a critical challenge faced by many countries today.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/United Nations University (UNU) PALM project is an initiative of the governments of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan which aims to restore, sustain and enhance the productive and protective functions of the transboundary ecosystems of the High Pamir and Pamir-Alai mountains, so as to improve the social and economic well-being of the rural communities and households utilizing the region's ecosystem resources to meet their livelihood needs, while preserving its unique landscape and globally important biodiversity.

This issue of Caravan describes the new program, and some of the research innovations it will build on. The issue begins with two ‘opinion pieces’ by scientists from partner organizations in the CRP. They share lessons learnt from past successes (and failures), and ideas that could be applied to dryland

El objetivo de este estudio es contribuir al análisis de los elementos institucionales y legales de los países de América Latina que favorecen o limitan la implementación de un mecanismo REDD+ (Reducción de Emisiones por Deforestación y Degradación) en ellos.