Sudan and Darfur are currently the most often cited examples for links between desertification and conflict. This was also the case on June 26, 2007, at the "Desertification and Security" conference, jointly organized by the German Federal Foreign Office and the Ministry for Development. The conference highlighted the role the UN Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD) could play in regard to conflicts. Panellists and participants agreed that it was mainly a preventive one: conflicts rooted in desertification are best avoided by preventing desertification in the first place. Once such conflicts are incited, they are difficult to resolve. This is equally true for migration caused by desertification: if migration occurs, this quickly results in transregional migration routes and networks. These networks, however, attract the interest of criminal organizations, in particular human traffickers, but also smugglers. They are also difficult to dissolve once they are established as they are highly profitable for those ready to profit from the misery of others.
While the UNCCD has made progress in combating desertification, desertification as such continues. It is furthermore expected to accelerate due to climate change. Several participants raised concerns, that strengthening the preventative approach of the UNCCD is not sufficient. It is also necessary to face the reality of desertification and develop integrated strategies to work equally on causes and consequences of desertification. However, the UNCCD, at least in its current form, has only limited mandate for the latter. (Achim Maas)

Further information on the conference is here available (in German).

For more information on the UNCCD, please visit http://www.unccd.int/

Published in:ECC-Newsletter, August 2007