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Noting:
1. The UN Conference on Environment and Development;
(UNCED), 1992, Rio Declaration and relevant parts of
Agenda 21
2. UN General Assembly Resolution 49/234, 1994, on the
elaboration of an International Convention to Combat
Desertification in those countries experiencing serious
drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa
3. Ratification of the United Nations Convention to Combat
Desertification in December 1996
4. The Abridged Final Report with Resolutions of the
Fourteenth World Meteorological Congress (WMO-No.
960) general summary, paragraph 3.2.2.15
5. UN General Assembly Resolution 54/223, 2000, on the
implementation of the United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing
serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa
6. UN General Assembly Resolution 58/211, 9 February 2004,
on the declaration of 2006 as the International Year of
Deserts and Desertification (IYDD)
7. UNCCD Decision 20 from COP-7, October 2005, on the
Programme of work of the Committee on Science and
Technology.
Considering:
1. The role played by climate and climatic factors in deserti-
fication processes and the importance of meteorology and
hydrology in many aspects of the combat against deserti-
fication
2. That drought and desertification have continued to affect
many countries
3. That drought and desertification have serious implications
for socio-economic development and the environment in
many countries, especially in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-
humid areas
4. That WMO has for many years contributed to the combat
against the adverse effects of drought and desertification at
national, regional and international levels,
5. Articles 10, 16 and 19 of the UNCCD
6. That WMO has participated effectively in the sessions 1 to
7 of the Conference of Parties (COP) of the UNCCD, and will
continue to do so in future sessions of COP,
7. That WMO has produced a brochure entitled “Climate and
Land Degradation” in support of IYDD
8. That WMO and UNCCD are working together to organize a
workshop entitled “Climate and Land Degradation”, from 11
to15 December 2006 in Arusha, Tanzania also in support of
IYDD.
Recognizing that the subject of drought and desertification
has been considered in detail by UNCED,
Urges Members of WMO:
1. To continue to strengthen national and regional meteorological
and hydrological networks and monitoring systems to ensure
adequate gathering and dissemination of basic data and infor-
mation nationally, regionally and internationally
2. To support as appropriate national, regional and global
programmes for integrated data collection and to carry out
assessment and research related to land degradation and deser-
tification and mitigation of drought problems
3. To continue to review, study and undertake research on the
interactions between climate, drought and desertification, and
their socio-economic impacts
4. To draw the attention of appropriate authorities and experts to
the use and applications of meteorological and hydrological
information in National Action Programmes for the imple-
mentation of UNCCD
5. To stimulate education and training on the meteorological and
hydrological aspects of the multi-disciplinary fields in the
combat against desertification
6. To support the Secretary-General in the further implementa-
tion of the recommendations of UNCED.
Requests the Secretary-General:
1. To bring the relevant recommendations on the follow-up to
UNCED to the attention of all Members
2. To continue to circulate to Members for information and appro-
priate action any relevant decisions of COPs of UNCCD which
may have implications for Member countries of WMO
3. To continue to take steps towards the implementation of
actions recommended by UNCED, which are of direct rele-
vance to WMO
4. To cooperate, as appropriate, within the budgetary resources,
with other relevant international and regional organizations in
the implementation of the UNCCD
5. To ensure that WMO continues to participate effectively, as
appropriate, in the implementation activities in support of
the UNCCD.
WMO
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO DROUGHT AND DESERTIFICATION
WMO Recommendations related to
Drought and Desertification