SciDev.Net

This review of the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) by the UK Environmental Audit Committee expresses disappointment that the MA has had limited impact on policymakers and nongovernmental organisations around the world. The authors recommend increasing the report's reach by, for example, setting up a new Millennium Ecosystem Fund to help developing countries integrate environmental protection into their national development plans. The authors also call for the MA to become an ongoing activity with periodic updates on the state of the world's ecosystems.

The UK government is expected to publish its response to these recommendations later in the year.

This report contains summaries of what the UN Environment Programme considers to be beacon projects in dryland reclamation. Projects are regarded as successful if they are innovative; have a low environmental footprint, and help to increase social and economic benefits to communities. In addition, successful projects need to be self-sustaining for at least two years after external funding ends.

This 55-page report (in English and French) contains case studies on how dryland communities and external organisations have tackled land degradation in Africa and Asia. The case studies were written from the perspective of non-governmental organisations in developing countries, and published by the UN convention secretariat in Bonn.

This 25-page report summarises the economic opportunities for the 2 billion people who live in drylands. In addition to agriculture, forestry, and livestock-rearing, the report highlights solar energy development, aquaculture, tourism, afforestation, bioprospecting, and mining as areas in which people and governments can (and often do) invest in. This report is aimed at policymakers and policy advisors. It is well written and contains good ideas and insight.