[Nethra K Putti]

CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION

- the united nations convention to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought & or desertification particularly in africa is an agreement to combat desertification & mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term stratergies supported by international cooperation & partnership arrangements. to help publicise the convention , 2006 was declared as " international year of deserts & desertification".

- in a concern effort to help over 900 million people around the world fight the life & death battle against the degradation of their fragile drylands, the process known as desertification, more than 100 governments concluded negotiations on june 18 1994 in Paris on a global legal agreement to address the situtation. the convention is an important step forward towards improving life in drylands, in that it establishes a framework for national, sub-regional & regional programmes to counter erated rate, affecting some 2 5 % of the earth's land area. caused by overgrazing, overcropping, poor irrigation practices, deforestation & other unsustainable socio-economic practices, as well as by climate variations, this especially serious in africa, where 66% of the continent is desert or dryland.

- The treaty or convention was opened for signature on October 14 1994 & entered into force on Dec 26 1996. at present there are 178 countries / parties of the convention including India.