World Day to
Combat Desertification and Drought, more commonly known as WDCDD is annually
celebrated on the 17th of June. It is a United Nations observance.
It aim at highlighting
ways to prevent desertification and recover from drought. There is an urgent
need to curb the desertification process. It places importance on promoting public
awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. In 1994, the
United Nations General Assembly declared (General Assembly Resolution
A/RES/49/115) June 17 the "World Day to Combat Desertification and
Drought" in order to promote public awareness of the issue, and the
implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in
those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification,
particularly in Africa.
Desertification, according to the UN, “is
the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. It is
caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations”. “Over 250
million people are directly affected by desertification, and about one billion
people in over one hundred countries are at risk”.
Every year it’s
celebrated under a different theme. This year the World Day to Combat
Desertification and Drought looks at the important link between land
degradation and migration. Environmental degradation, food insecurity, and
poverty are causes of migration and development challenges. “In just 15 years,
the number of international migrants worldwide has risen from 173 million in
2000 to 244 million in 2015”. It looks at ways in which local communities can
build resilience against current multi-fold development challenges through
sustainable land management practices.
For more
information on this day, visit: http://www.un.org/en/events/desertificationday/index.shtml
References
