Happy “World Day to Combat Desertification” (WDCD) everyone! It may not be a day on the calendar that everyone keeps exceedingly close tabs on, but a little more information couldn’t hurt.
Desertification is a process where land is slowly degraded due to certain human and environmental factors. Occurring in dryland ecosystems that already have scarce water resources, it causes the land to become less and less able to function naturally and efficiently.
Today, it is one of the greatest challenges to the developing world. Gradual loss of agricultural productivity due to overuse and other unsustainable practices is the primary cause of famine and malnutrition in Africa and Asia. Population growth and climate change also play a role, as they add further pressure to land already used in unsustainable ways.
Celebrated every June 17th since the ratification of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1994, the WDCD has been used to raise awareness for this important issue. As this is also the Global Year of Biodiversity, the theme of this year’s celebration is on the value of soil diversity. In the words of the UNCCD:
“Soil organisms contribute a wide range of essential services for the sustainable functioning of all ecosystems. They are the primary driving agents of nutrient cycling, regulating the dynamics of soil organic matter, soil carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emission. They also modify the soil’s physical structure and water regimes, enhancing the amount and efficiency of nutrient acquisition by the vegetation, and of plant health. The diversity of ecosystems is also based on soil diversity. In this regard, the conservation of soils amounts to preserving the basis for diversity of life.”
So maybe it won’t get you off from work tomorrow, but if the WDCD has made you more aware and resolved to fighting hunger and poverty, it is certainly a cause worth celebrating.
Posted by Lex Cardone
