The UNCCD secretariat, the Common Fund For Commodities (CFC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched the first African Drylands Commodity Atlas. The Atlas highlights the importance of commodities for primary agricultural production in African countries. It enhances the understanding of national policy makers in dryland Least
Developed Countries (LDCs), development partners and other stakeholders on the possibilities and potential opportunities to achieve poverty reduction through environmentally sustainable and economically profitable commodity production drylands.
How to get a copy
The Atlas is available for free download (pdf, 5.8mb) from: http://www.unccd.int/knowledge/docs/Atlas%20web.pdf
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Desertification and low annual rainfall has been exacerbating hardship in many African countries. One innovation that is currently being trialed is that of “cloud seeding“.
The West African Monsoon and Rainfall Enhancement programme has been running trials in Mali and training Malians since 2006.
The first three years (2006, 2007, 2008) focused on sampling of clouds and aerosols with aircraft and radar observations along with a preliminary randomized seeding program. The 2009 program (June-September) will continue to sample clouds and aerosol along with the continuation of an exploratory randomized seeding program.
A new report on IRIN NEWS, MALI: Faking snow in the desert to boost rain, continues the story.
Sixty-five percent of Africa‘s population is affected by land degradation.
Improvement in land management practices is necessary to combat its effects.
According to the United Nations, “land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities” constitutes desertification. World Day to Combat Desertification, recognized on June 17, highlights the opportunities for international cooperation to combat the threats of desertification.
Read the full WHO article
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