Role of Local Bodies in Implementing the
UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

District Councils and Union Councils may play an effective role in the implementation of the CCD. This is because of the fact that Union Councils and District Councils have sufficient mechanism and infrastructure to implement and monitor the CCD activities. Furthermore, they could also develop the infrastructure and raise funds to combat land degradation in their respective areas. Similarly, these councils may also be used as platforms for the capacity building and training of the NGOs, CBOs, CSOs and VOs in the affected areas. In addition to that these can also be treated as forums of accountability as the Convention gives full-authority to local bodies to criticize the implementation mechanism of the CCD at any stage.

Objectives:

• Role of local governments incorporate long-term strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought, emphasize implementation and be integrated with national policies for sustainable development.
• Allow for modifications to be made in response to changing circumstances and be sufficiently flexible at the local level to cope with different socio-economic, biological and geo-physical conditions.
• Give particular attention to the implementation of preventive measures for lands that are not yet degraded or which are only slightly degraded.
• Provide for effective participation at the local, national and regional levels of non- governmental organizations and local populations, particularly resource users, including farmers and pastoralists and their representative organizations, in policy planning, decision-making, and implementation and review of national action programmes.
• Establishment and/or strengthening, as appropriate, of food security systems, including storage and marketing facilities, particularly in rural areas.
• Establishment of alternative livelihood projects that could provide incomes in drought prone areas.
• Development of sustainable irrigation programmes for both crops and livestock.

Please send your abstracts and questions to Dr. Farooq Ahmad
farooq@geog.pu.edu.pk

Please note that the deadline for submitting your abstract is September 15 , 2006

 

Convenor(s):

Dr. Farooq Ahmad

Department of Geography
University of the Punjab
Lahore
Pakistan
farooq@geog.pu.edu.pk

See Dr. Farooq’s website for more information

Call for Abstracts
 

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