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Desertification: a global problem
• The 6th period of sessions
of the CIO-6 enters its final phase
• Roundtables with heads of states and governments
• Art and culture forum
BY MIREYA CASTAÑEDA
—Granma International staff
writer—
THE problem is a concrete one: over 25 million
people are suffering directly from the effects of
desertification and a third of the earth’s surface —
more than 4 billion hectares — is under threat.
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Ricardo Alarcón, president of
the Cuban Parliament, stressed that despite
their ecological debts, the developed nations
are doing very little to meet their
responsibilities. |
The subsistence of 1.2 billion inhabitants from 110
countries who depend on the soil is in danger.
With good reason we always think about Africa, but
the problem is not just in the Third World. Data
from the UN Convention Secretariat on combating
desertification and drought indicate, for example,
that over 30% of U.S. land is affected by
degradation, and in Spain 31% is at risk. A quarter
of Latin America and the Caribbean is desert and dry
land.
It’s a dramatic situation. According to estimates,
by 2005 arable land will be reduced by two-thirds in
Africa, one third in Asia, and one fifth in South
America.
This is why at the opening of the 6th COP-6
conference in Havana Cuban Parliament President
Ricardo Alarcón expressed his hope that the meeting
would not just result in good intentions but
concrete commitments.
Alarcón explained that desertification is an
economic, social and environmental problem that is
putting human survival to the test. But despite
their “obvious ecological debts” the industrialized
countries are making little commitment to fulfill
their responsibilities as laid out in the seventh
principle of the Río Declaration relating to common
but differentiated responsibilities.
Cuba’s successful efforts in combating soil erosion
and degradation since 1959 were highlighted by
Alarcón along with the government and civil
society’s role in fighting those two problems and
improving the quality of life.
This is why when the executive secretary, Burkina
Faso’s Hama Arba Diallo, praised the Cuban
experience and the support that enabled the COP-6 to
be held in Havana, he was perhaps sending a signal
to the signatory countries on the lines of “less
talk and more action.”
It should be remembered that the UN Convention on
combating desertification and drought was adopted in
1994, came into force in 1996 and has been ratified
by 187 countries to date. Since then, COP
conferences — meetings by those nations to review
developments — have been held in Rome, Dakar, Recife,
Bonn and Geneva, and currently Havana (August
15-September 5). The general opinion is that
important decisions will be taken here on the
measures needed to reinforce a global
anti-desertification struggle.
Dr. Rosa Elena Simeón, minister of science,
technology and the environment (CITMA) and COP-6
president elect, emphasized the importance of Cuba
as the venue for this meeting. She pointed out that
since 1994, Havana has participated in working to
implement the convention and next year will create a
national group for combating desertification and
drought.
Dr. Gisela Alonso, president of CITMA’s
environmental agency, enlarged on the theme for
Granma International. She explained how Cuba has
followed the convention closely, citing the example
of triangular activities between the Caribbean,
Latin America and Africa. “Cuba is in a favorable
situation with respect to Third World countries
thanks to the development model we have decided to
use. We are backed up by knowledge, education,
scientific bases, political will and the ability to
unite various disciplines. This last aspect is being
discussed on an international level — the synergy
between conventions, or rather how they can be
brought together in order to achieve better
results.”
To a question on the COP-6’s possible results, Dr.
Alonso replied: “I think the most important thing is
to open up a scenario where Third World countries
can discuss their common problems. Of course there
are also the industrialized nations, but everyone
realizes that we are speaking a different language.
It’s a space that should be maintained because the
problems attacking this convention are closely
linked to poverty and food security, as acknowledged
in the Johannesburg Action Program.”
In addition, finance is in short supply and this is
a primordial subject; “Yes, there is a lack of
finance but political will is also lacking.”
Debates on finance are expected
to be heated. Nevertheless, Hama Arba Diallo
considered that the COP-6 “will be a landmark in
applying the convention now that financial support
from the World Environmental Fund ...will be opening
many doors for anti-desertification projects.”
When the conference’s second week begins on
September 1, the COP-6 will have turned into a
summit. Scheduled events include the 5th Roundtable
organized with the Interparliamentary Union (over 80
legislators set to attend); the art and culture
forum, co-sponsored by UNESCO; interactive dialogue
by ministers or top-level representatives; and the
heads of state and governments’ roundtable (the
convention’s executive secretariat informs that some
20 are expected).
The special importance of the theme of
desertification — with its definitive global
character – is under discussion and requires urgent
solutions.
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