This issue of Unasylva focuses on Africa. A large part of the continent has been overrun by drought in successive years, and millions of people are exposed to hunger and malnutrition. In many African countries, cultivation is because of hunger - rapidly expanding into forest land and areas of low rainfall. This process, coupled with necessarily unmanaged exploitation for fuelwood, fodder and other basic goods and services that forests and trees provide, has led to a progressively increasing rate of deforestation.

El presente nmero de Unasylva se centra en Africa. Gran parte de ese continente ha sido afectado por la sequa durante varios aos consecutivos y millones de personas estn hoy expuestas al hambre y la malnutricin. En muchos pases la agricultura est invadiendo terrenos forestales y zonas de escasas precipitaciones. Este hecho, unido a una explotacin desordenada de la lea, los forrajes y otros bienes y servicios bsicos que pueden obtenerse de los bosques y los rboles, ha provocado una deforestacin cada vez ms rpida.

La sécheresse peut frapper les cultures dans les tropiques semi-humides et humides pondant la saison sèche si au cours de la dernière saison pluvieuse la pluviométrie totale a été loin d'atteindre le niveau normal.

Les effets des conditions climatiques défavorables et la persistance de la sécheresse et de la désertification sont ressentis de plus en plus profondément par plus de 60 p. 100 des pays africains. Les autres pays, y compris ceux que l'on croyait bénéficier d'un climat équatorial ou tropical, sont menacés par la sécheresse et la désertification. La persistance de la sécheresse, compromet sérieusement les activités productives nécessaires au développement socio-économique équilibré du continent.

It soon became apparent that soil degradation in the Ethiopian Highlands may be posing a threat not only in terms of the physical loss of soils, but also in terms of deteriorating, soil chemical fertility. This study has therefore emphasized both the physical and chemical deterioration of soils due to degradation.

There is a urgent need for a better understanding of the risks of soil degradation and their geographical distribution as well as a better knowledge of where degradation occurs at present. it would be desirable to combine soil conservation activities with other elements for increasing crop production.Erosion, salinity and alkalinity and the loss of soil fertility seriously reduce the natural potential of soils to produce food fibres. During the meeting, many criteria to assess the various types of soil degradation were outlined by the experts.

The objective of this Convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.

Dear Sir/ Madam

Please see my blog published on website of Responding to Climate Change (RTCC);

Desertification action not possible until fair land management addressed

25 April 2012

By Tanveer Arif

Invitación a participar en el Observatorio de los Pastizales para mejorar la toma de decisiones informadas y participativas sobre el uso de la tierra y la inversión en los pastizales. 

El Observatorio de los Pastizales

L’Observatoire des Terres des Parcours

Invitación a participar en el Observatorio de los Pastizales para mejorar la toma de decisiones informadas y participativas sobre el uso de la tierra y la inversión en los pastizales. 

El Observatorio de los Pastizales