The world’s mangroves 1980–2005 is a thematic study undertaken within the framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. It was led by FAO in collaboration with mangrove specialists throughout the world, and was co-funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). It builds on the 1980 assessment, on the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000) and 2005 (FRA 2005), and on an extensive literature search and correspondence with mangrove and forest resources assessment specialists.

Light textured sandy soils are ubiquitous throughout the tropics and constitute an important soil resource on which millions are dependent for their livelihoods. Spanning a range of rainfall regimes from the arid to the humid tropics, they present unique sustainability and environmental challenges to resource managers. Physical, chemical and biological characteristics of sandy soils often act as a severe limitation in crop production.

The main aim of this study is to facilitat e access to comprehensive and comparable information on the current and past extent of mangroves in the 124 countries and areas where they are known to exist, highlighting information gaps and providing updated information that may serve as a tool for mangrove managers and policy- and decision-makers worldwide.

Fire management is an essential part of sustainable forest management. This publication complements the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005 (FRA 2005) as an in-depth thematic study on the incidence, impact and management of forest fires in different regions of the world. It was developed from 12 regional papers prepared within the framework of the Global Wildland Fire Network of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Este informe está dirigido a revisar y resumir la información existente sobre el secuestro de carbono, con el fin de analizar como los recursos disponibles y los programas específicos se pueden implementar en las tierras áridas que constituyen las regiones con mayor degradación del suelo en el mundo.

The world’s mangroves 1980–2005 is a thematic study undertaken within the framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. It was led by FAO in collaboration with mangrove specialists throughout the world, and was co-funded by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). It builds on the 1980 assessment, on the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000) and 2005 (FRA 2005), and on an extensive literature search and correspondence with mangrove and fo rest resources assessment specialists.

The report is a result of input solicited from Member States and regional partners, and extensive desk review of available documentation and internet resources on drought and desertification, as well as information exchange with and comment from various

organizations and individuals. It is in no way meant to be exhaustive but it brings out the main findings obtaining from the above sources on the subject matter.

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) at its Sixteenth Session 1. (CSD-16) to be held in 2008, will focus on the assessment of the progress made in implementing programs and actions on sustainable development under the thematic cluster of issues covering agriculture and rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa.

Land is very important natural resource to the human being as it provides the basis for more than 95% of human food. On the broader context, land has many other functions, e.g. provision of biological habitats and physical and connective space; regulation of hydrology and climate; storage of minerals, raw materials and historical/pre-historical records; and as a buffer to control waste and pollution. Expanding human requirements and economic activities are placing ever increasing pressures on land resources, creating competition and conflicts and resulting in suboptimal use of land.

Résumé

This report looks at possible ways for policy-makers and decision-takers to combat and/or prevent land degradation in the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) region, both generally and specifically in the following countries: Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The report begins by reviewing the extent, causes and impact of land degradation and examines the complexity of assessing land degradation programmes.