Eduardo Blanco Mendizabal - 2009 UNCCD photo contest
The last report of the Spanish National Action Programme to Combat Desertification (NAP) shows that 35% of its territory is on a significant risk of desertification and 75% of the surface is categorized as arid, semi-arid or dry sub-humid. On this, a Spanish scientist and the UNCCD programme officer for Knowledge Management Science and Technology, Dr. Víctor Castillo, spoke to EC magazine, highlighting the seriousness of desertification that degrades the ecosystem and causes of poverty. Dr. Castillo clarifies that not all arid landscapes are subject to desertification: "Arid lands are indispensable elements of preserving our biodiversity" he explains, and affirms that citizens are major actors in this process: "Responsible consumption is a very effective tool to induce sustainable development policies", he says. However, Castillo assumes that the fight against desertification "needs a decisive action by government". In this sense, "the UNCCD has a double value: to struggle against poverty and to achieve sustainable development". The whole article is available here.
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