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| Regional Priorities |
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Promoting effective and equitable management, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
Goal: conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in Asia and the Pacific for the benefit of all.
Over the past 30 years, the natural resources of the Asia-Pacific region have been subjected to increasing degradation thereby threatening livelihoods, food security, people's health and long-term sustainable development. Such environmental degradation has also increased the risks of natural disasters. Growing populations, urbanization, widespread poverty, ineffective governance, ambiguous property rights, weak institutions and inappropriate policies continue to exacerbate an alarming situation.
Pressure on land, forest, water and aquatic resources in Asia and the Pacific is the most severe compared to other regions in the world. 850 million hectares, representing more than 28 percent of the region's land area, are affected by some form of land degradation. Deforestation, inappropriate agricultural practices, inefficient irrigation water use, excessive groundwater extraction and industrial development continue to contribute to land, soil and water degradation. Soil erosion and nutrient mining have reduced the agricultural potential of vast areas.
Countries in the region generally recognize the need to shift from exploitative land management practices to more sustainable, equitable, economically viable and productive patterns of food production and natural resource management. The challenge is to balance the elements of change, namely people, policy, technology and resources, for effective and equitable natural resource management.
The objectives of FAO are to ensure that:
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member countries have effective national policies, legislation and institutions for the management, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, and engage in regional cooperation to manage shared natural resources; |
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sustainable management of natural resources is recognized as a priority and sufficient financial and other resources are allocated for this purpose; |
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stakeholders have the capacity to effectively design, implement and monitor policies, programmes, reforms and tangible changes and benefits to end users; |
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appropriate information and technologies are communicated to stakeholders, especially women, the poor and marginal groups; and |
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international conventions and treaties are implemented and monitored. |
For more information on the six thematic programme areas guiding FAO's work in the region in its mission to help member countries halve the region's undernourished by 2015 see RAP Publication 2004/06 Towards a food-secure Asia and Pacific. Regional Strategic Framework for Asia and Pacific, second edition.
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