Africans Call for Treaty on Desertification

new york, mar 9 1992 (ips) -- african delegates at the final negotiating round before the 'earth summit' are pressing for a binding global treaty to deal with the devastating socio-economic and environmental effects of desertification.

the 'earth summit', or united nations conference on environment and development (unced), is to take place in rio de janeiro, brazil from jun. 1-12.

at the summit, governments are expected to sign an 'earth charter' as a declaration of the rights and obligations of 175 nations towards sustainable development.

they are also expected to adopt a programme of action -- 'agenda 21' -- as a blueprint for sustainable development to guide countries into the 21st century.

the african group monday submitted to the unced preparatory committee a 16-page list of 'proposed amendments' to a u.n. general assembly report on 'soil protection: desertification and drought.'

among the proposed amendments submitted for discussion by nigeria on behalf of the african group was a proposal for ''the preparation and the signing of an international convention on combatting desertification in africa.''

''this convention should contain concrete and specific commitments from the international community and should take into account the needs of the countries affected by desertification,'' it said.

deserts and arid lands cover about one-quarter of the world's surface, with 45 percent of those areas found in africa. increasing desertification is estimated to affect roughly one- sixth of the world's population.

the proposed adoption of the convention on desertification would be in addition to the two treaties to be signed at the 'earth summit' on 'global warming' and 'biological diversity.'

according to the african group, the estimated financing required to implement programmes to ease the socioeconomic and environmental effects of desertification would cost roughly 24 billion dollars by the year 2000, or 3 billion dollars per year.

but in order to meet those requirements, the group warned that ''a radical change in the present attitude of technical and financial assistance is needed to combat desertification and drought at national, regional and global levels.''

''there is also an urgent need for a broader international institutional response in this regard,'' it added.

while some delegates have argued that desertification is a result of the consequences of inappropriate land-use, the african group stated that poverty is the leading contributor to environmental degradation and spreading desertification.

according to the group, one of the main priorities of any convention in the prevention and reversal of desertification would be steps toward the eradication of poverty through the strengthening and promotion of alternative livelihoods.

the proposed amendment points out that ''in the absence of improved farming systems, population growth has been translated into a drastic expansion of agriculture resulting in excessive deforestation, reduction of fallow periods preventing soil regeneration, and encroachment of cultivation into strategic rangelands and marginal lands.''

the group calls for providing opportunities for alternative livelihoods as a basis for reducing pressure on land resources, as well as improving the rural population's standard of living.

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