Summary of Un convention to combat desertification

UNITED
NATIONS A
Distr.
General Assembly GENERAL

A/AC.241/27
12 September 1994

ENGLISH
Original: ENGLISH




INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR
THE ELABORATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION IN THOSE COUNTRIES
EXPERIENCING SERIOUS DROUGHT AND/OR
DESERTIFICATION, PARTICULARLY IN AFRICA




ELABORATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
IN COUNTRIES EXPERIENCING SERIOUS DROUGHT AND/OR DESERTIFICATION,
PARTICULARLY IN AFRICA



Final text of the Convention


Note by the Secretariat


Attached is the final text of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Desertification, Particularly in Africa, following completion of the verification
processes as requested by the INCD upon adoption of the Convention at its fifth
session, on 17 June 1994.

The final text has been forwarded to the Office of Legal Affairs of the
United Nations, which acts as Depositary, in order to prepare for the signing
ceremony to be held in Paris, on 14-15 October 1994.



GE.94-64371

,A/AC.241/27
page 2


UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
IN THOSE COUNTRIES EXPERIENCING SERIOUS DROUGHT AND/OR
DESERTIFICATION, PARTICULARLY IN AFRICA


The Parties to this Convention,

Affirming that human beings in affected or threatened areas are at the
centre of concerns to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought,

Reflecting the urgent concern of the international community, including
States and international organizations, about the adverse impacts of
desertification and drought,

Aware that arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas together account for a
significant proportion of the Earth’s land area and are the habitat and source
of livelihood for a large segment of its population,

Acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of global
dimension in that they affect all regions of the world and that joint action of
the international community is needed to combat desertification and/or mitigate
the effects of drought,

Noting the high concentration of developing countries, notably the least
developed countries, among those experiencing serious drought and/or
desertification, and the particularly tragic consequences of these phenomena in
Africa,

Noting also that desertification is caused by complex interactions among
physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic factors,

Considering the impact of trade and relevant aspects of international
economic relations on the ability of affected countries to combat desertification
adequately,

Conscious that sustainable economic growth, social development and poverty
eradication are priorities of affected developing countries, particularly in
Africa, and are essential to meeting sustainability objectives,

Mindful that desertification and drought affect sustainable development
through their interrelationships with important social problems such as poverty,
poor health and nutrition, lack of food security, and those arising from
migration, displacement of persons and demographic dynamics,

Appreciating the significance of the past efforts and experience of States
and international organizations in combating desertification and mitigating the
effects of drought, particularly in implementing the Plan of Action to Combat
Desertification which was adopted at the United Nations Conference on
Desertification in 1977,

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Realizing that, despite efforts in the past, progress in combating
desertification and mitigating the effects of drought has not met expectations
and that a new and more effective approach is needed at all levels within the
framework of sustainable development,

Recognizing the validity and relevance of decisions adopted at the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly of Agenda 21 and
its chapter 12, which provide a basis for combating desertification,

Reaffirming in this light the commitments of developed countries as
contained in paragraph 13 of chapter 33 of Agenda 21,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 47/188, particularly the priority in
it prescribed for Africa, and all other relevant United Nations resolutions,
decisions and programmes on desertification and drought, as well as relevant
declarations by African countries and those from other regions,

Reaffirming the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development which states,
in its Principle 2, that States have, in accordance with the Charter of the
United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to
exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental
policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their
jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States
or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,

Recognizing that national Governments play a critical role in combating
desertification and mitigating the effects of drought and that progress in that
respect depends on local implementation of action programmes in affected areas,

Recognizing also the importance and necessity of international cooperation
and partnership in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of
drought,

Recognizing further the importance of the provision to affected developing
countries, particularly in Africa, of effective means, inter alia substantial
financial resources, including new and additional funding, and access to
technology, without which it will be difficult for them to implement fully their
commitments under this Convention,

Expressing concern over the impact of desertification and drought on
affected countries in Central Asia and the Transcaucasus,

Stressing the important role played by women in regions affected by
desertification and/or drought, particularly in rural areas of developing
countries, and the importance of ensuring the full participation of both men and
women at all levels in programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the
effects of drought,

Emphasizing the special role of non-governmental organizations and other
major groups in programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of
drought,

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Bearing in mind the relationship between desertification and other
environmental problems of global dimension facing the international and national
communities,

Bearing also in mind the contribution that combating desertification can
make to achieving the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and other related
environmental conventions,

Believing that strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects
of drought will be most effective if they are based on sound systematic
observation and rigorous scientific knowledge and if they are continuously re-
evaluated,

Recognizing the urgent need to improve the effectiveness and coordination
of international cooperation to facilitate the implementation of national plans
and priorities,

Determined to take appropriate action in combating desertification and
mitigating the effects of drought for the benefit of present and future
generations,

Have agreed as follows:




PART I

INTRODUCTION


Article 1

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Convention:

(a) "desertification" means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry
sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic
variations and human activities;

(b) "combating desertification" includes activities which are part of the
integrated development of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid
areas for sustainable development which are aimed at:

(i) prevention and/or reduction of land degradation;

(ii) rehabilitation of partly degraded land; and

(iii) reclamation of desertified land;