The international convention of combat against desertification and drought (UN CCD) and the agreements about desertification

In the international realm -and guided by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)- the importance is acknowledged of using benchmarks and indicators to add a certain rigour to the relative measurement and comparison of desertification processes. Substantiation of this postulate has presented some drawbacks when addressing the sphere of higher operativity, particularly at the local scale. This study aims at exploring such difficulties, and proposes a methodology that has proven capable of integrating the physical-biological and socio-economic dimensions, and of articulating different temporalities and aggregation levels, in an "Integrated Model of Assessment and Intervention in the Combat against Desertification". In addition this methodology is participative and concerned about gathering together the multiple views that arise concerning this phenomenon.