Plan of action to combat desertification : Implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 32/172 of 19 December 1977, by which it approved the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification,

Recalling also its resolutions 33/89 of 15 December 1978, 34/184 of 18 December 1979, 36/191 of 17 December 1981, 37/220 of 20 December 1982, 38/163 of 19 December 1983, 39/168 of 17 December 1984 and 40/198 of 17 December 1985, dealing with the implementation and financing of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification,

Recalling further its resolution S-13/2 of 1 June 1986, by which it adopted the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990,

Noting with dismay and grave concern the continuing spread and intensification of desertification in developing countries, especially in Africa, and the unprecedented human suffering, economic losses and social disruption caused by that phenomenon,

Recognizing that problems such as desertification affect all countries through world aid and trade flows, food shortages and periodic famines, political instability and, most of all, the adverse effects on resources and world recovery,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation and financing of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification and the notes by the Secretary-General concerning desertification and drought,

Having also considered the report of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on the work of its fourteenth session, and Governing Council decision 14/15 of 18 June 1987 on desertification,

1.         Takes note of decision 14/15 A of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme;

2.         Urges Governments, organizations of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental bodies to intensify their efforts to combat desertification, to continue to give priority to measures recommended in the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification and by the Governing Council in decision 14/15, and to increase assistance to the countries concerned, with a view to the implementation of their national and regional programmes aimed at desertification control;

3.         Notes the significant role that non-governmental organizations are continuing to play in efforts to combat desertification and calls upon Governments and organizations of the United Nations system and other intergovernmental bodies to explore all possibilities for increasing their participation in these efforts;

4.         Urges the Governments of countries affected by desertification to accord sustained priority to medium-term and long-term strategies and programmes for combating desertification and to ensure that these are smoothly integrated with their national development plans and the regional co-operative programmes to curb the spread of environmental degradation;

5.         Requests the Governing Council to submit a report to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the progress achieved in implementing the measures approved by the Governing Council to enhance the work of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Desertification;

6.         Also requests the Governing Council to report to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the progress made in the implementation of the Plan of Action.

B Implementation in the Sudano-Sahelian region of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions on the matter and, in particular, its resolution S-13/2 of 1 June 1986, by which it adopted the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990,

Taking note of decision 14/15 B of 18 June 1987 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme on the implementation in the Sudano-Sahelian region of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification,

Taking note also of decision 87/40 of 18 June 1987 of the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme on activities of the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office and assistance to other drought-stricken countries in Africa,

Taking note further of the appropriate decisions of the Economic and Social Council on the implementation of the Plan of Action in the Sudano-Sahelian region,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990,

Having considered the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme on the implementation in the Sudano-Sahelian region of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification,

1.         Takes note of the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme on the implementation in the Sudano-Sahelian region of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification;

2.         Notes with grave concern:

(a)        The scope and complexity of the damage caused by desertification in the Sudano-Sahelian region;

(b)        That insufficient financial resources continue to be a serious constraint in combating desertification;

(c)        That the struggle against desertification requires financial and human resources beyond the means of the affected countries;

3.         Notes also the efforts that the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office has made in the face of these obstacles to assist, on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Governments of the countries of the region in combating desertification, under a joint venture between the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme;

4.         Commends the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme for the sustained and co-ordinated manner in which they have continued to develop the joint venture through the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office;

5.         Recommends to the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme and the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme that they continue, increase and intensify their efforts to mobilize resources for the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office in order to make it more capable of responding adequately to the pressing needs of the countries of the Sudano-Sahelian and adjacent regions;

6.         Expresses its gratitude to all Governments, and all organizations and foundations that have contributed to the implementation in the Sudano-Sahelian region of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification;

7.         Draws the attention of the international community to the pressing need to increase the efforts to implement the Plan of Action in the Sudano-Sahelian region and urges it to contribute to the implementation through appropriate means, including the United Nations Trust Fund for Sudano-Sahelian Activities, and to respond favourably to requests for assistance from the Governments of the countries of the region that are most affected;

8.         Requests the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme to report to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the progress made in the implementation in the Sudano-Sahelian region of the Plan of Action.

C Financing and other measures in support of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 40/198 of 17 December 1985,

1.         Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation and financing of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification;

2.         Urges Governments as well as organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, other multilateral development-assistance institutions, non-governmental organizations and private foundations to take the necessary decisions to mobilize the funds required before the desertification process destroys more arable lands and it becomes too late to stop the process;

3.         Urges relevant research institutions, as appropriate, in co-operation with the United Nations Environment Programme, to give maximum priority to work in the field of desertification;

4.         Takes note of the fact that the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, in its decision 14/15 D of 18 June 1987, requested the Executive Director of the Programme to discuss with Governments the feasibility of adopting a new and realistic approach that would encourage them and international financing institutions to contribute directly or indirectly to the Special Account to finance the implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification;

5.         Requests the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme to examine, in the context of the evaluation called for in Governing Council decision 14/15 C of 18 June 1987, ways and means of enhancing the efficiency of the Consultative Group for Desertification Control in pursuance of its mandate as contained in the pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly;

6.         Requests the Secretary-General to keep under review actions at the national and regional levels as well as the issues pertaining to the financing of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification and to consult further with interested Governments on the proposals contained in his report.

D Report of the Secretary-General concerning the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification

The General Assembly,

Requests the Secretary-General to report to it at its forty-fourth session, through the Economic and Social Council, on the implementation of resolutions A, B and C above.

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