UN praises Namibia
2004-09-22 14:19
Windhoek - The United Nations has praised Namibia's efforts to fight desertification in the country.
Executive secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Hama Arba Diallo, says Namibia has made great strides in the fight against desertification and its experiences could help other Southern African countries.
"Namibia's experience is quite useful to all her neighbours," said Diallo on a recent visit. "Your efforts are appreciated."
He noted that Namibia had involved communities in the proper use of natural resources.
He said this is what the UNCCD and its partners such as the United Nations Development Programme, United National Environmental Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation, African Development Bank and the World Bank encouraged.
Diallo was in the country for a four-day conference of the Global Environment Facility Pilot Partnership on Sustainable Land Use Management.
In his speech to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification on June 17 this year, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said desertification undermines the fertility of the world's land, with productivity losses reaching 50% in some areas.
Desertification causes land degradation, food insecurity, famine and poverty. It is estimated that the livelihoods of more than 1 billion of the world's population are at risk from desertification.
As a consequence, 135 million people may be in danger of being driven from their land.