What is the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?
It is an agreement signed by countries around the world to share the responsibility of fighting the effects of desertification. Its goal is to help regenerate the soil in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions. The Convention came about at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, where many developing countries, led by African countries, asked for the world’s help in fighting desertification as quickly as possible. In Paris, 1994, 87 countries signed the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Today more than 115 countries have signed the agreement. Once the governments of 50 countries have fully confirmed their participation the full course of action will begin. A plan for urgent action has been adopted to encourage immediate efforts in Africa because it is the part of the world which suffers the most from desertification.
