Degradation of dryland ecosystems: Assessments and suggested actions to combat it

This paper gives an account of several attempts by UN organizations, particularly UNEP, in the area of desertification assessment and monitoring. Approximately 70 % of the susceptible drylands are undergoing various forms of land degradation. Overgrazing of the rangelands by livestock is the most widespread cause of degradation in the drylands. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification recommended that efforts should move from global assessment to national and local level assessments, and focus should shift from physical parameters and directed more to people issues.