Millennium Ecosystem Assessment I
- Desertification and natural resources, environment, and food security

If legal instruments are not fully implemented, there is a risk they remain in the domain of virtual reality and wishful thinking.The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has come a long way since it came into force in 1996, with current membership standing at 191 Parties. 2006 was a landmark year. It was the tenth anniversary of the Convention, and it was also the International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD), declared by the UN General Assembly to increase awareness of this urgent global issue.While progress has been made in tackling desertification, much remains to be done.