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The Agriculture Division has been actively involved over the past decade in conducting studies, identifying and formulating plans and projects, participating in symposia and seminars and other activities at national and regional levels with the objective of improving utilization methods of the available natural resources in a way compatible with the principles of sustained yield and combat of desertification. These activities have been taken up by ESCWA either unilaterally or multilaterally in cooperation with one or more of the other specialized United Nations agencies or regional and international organizations and in coordination with the concerned Governments. Undoubtedly, these efforts by ESCWA in the past years were very significant and useful. The role ESCWA is expected to play in the years to come in this regard will be even more important, since the region is currently undergoing rapid and crucial socioeconomic and environmental changes.

1. The past activities

Grouped thematically, ESCWA past activities in the areas of resource conservation and the combat of desertification in the Western Asian region are the following:

(a) Agriculture and development in Western Asia

This an annual publication, in a joint series, of ESCWA and FAO. In this periodical, which started publication in 1978, various articles related to natural resources, agricultural topics, rural and demographic issues, environmental problems, and numerous other socioeconomic aspects are included. The articles are prepared by outside experts and the Professional staff in the Agriculture Division. The articles may cover areas specific to a certain country or group of countries or they may be about subjects common to the region as a whole;

(b) Regional studies on desertification

Several studies and reports on desertification in the ESCWA region have been prepared in the past few years. They are:

(i) Plan of Action to Combat Desertification in the ECWA Region. Note by Executive Secretary (E/ECWA/77), 1979.

The report was prepared as a response to the United Nations Conference on Desertification.

It was aimed at arresting the advance of desertification, reclaiming lands taken over by desertification for productive use, and sustaining and promoting the productivity of arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas prone to desertification for the betterment of the quality of life of their people;

(ii) The State of Resources and Management in the Agricultural Sector of the ECWA Region (E/ECWA/AGR/WG.12/3), 1981.

The first part of this paper described the current status of agricultural resources in the ECWA region, in terms of its three natural subregions, namely the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, the Fertile Crescent and Egypt. In the second part, various resource development strategies were outlined and in the last part issues relating to the economics of conservation and planning and implementation of conservation projects and programmes were reviewed;

(iii) The Role of ECWA in Efforts to Combat Desertification in Western Asia (E/ECWA/AGR/WG.12/5), 1981.

The paper identified the role and possible future involvement of ECWA in efforts to improve conservation and management of agricultural natural resources and the combat of desertification;

(iv) Regional Assessment of Desertification in the ECWA Region (E/ECWA/AGR/83/7), 1984.

This study was prepared in the context of the first general assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme of progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action to Combat Desertification. It examined the current status of Desertification in the ECWA region, using different physical indicators, assessed the progress made in implementation of the Plan of Action, using various socioeconomic indicators, delineated the general trend of desertification in the region by mayor land-use types and identified measures to combat desertification;

(v) "Report of the Executive Secretary on progress and impact of national and intercountry programmes to combat desertification" in Progress Made in the Implementation of the Work Programme, Addendum, Executive Summaries (E/ECWA/XI/4/Add.1/Part I), 1984.

The report reviewed the progress made and actions taken in several countries in the region to combat desertification through improved practices of natural resources utilization and direct action against desertification;

(vi) An Approach Towards Economic Analysis of Desertification Control Projects (E/ESCWA/AGR/87/11), 1987.

The study outlined an improved conceptual approach towards planning and selection of arid zone resource programmes and projects and treated four aspects of this process: (a) defining the problem; (b) formulating feasible solutions best suited to those problems; (c) choosing the best solution; and (d) monitoring performances of the projects comprising the arid zone programmes.

(c) Regional studies on livestock and pastoral systems

(i) Major Livestock Technological Improvement Policies in the ECWA Region (E/ECWA/AGR/79/5), 1979;

(ii) Strategy for Livestock Development in the Gulf States and Arabian Peninsula (E/ECWA/AGR/79/2), 1979;

(iii) Pastoral System in the ECWA Region: Some Policy Considerations (E/ECWA/AGR/79/9), 1979;

These studies analyse various technical, logistical and socio-economic problems faced by the livestock and pastoral systems in the countries of the ECWA region and outline strategies and policies for the improvement and rational development of these systems.

(d) Meeting and studies on management, conservation and development of agricultural resources

(i) Report of the Expert Meeting on Management. Conservation and Development of Agricultural Resources in the ECWA Region: Damascus, 9-15 May 1981 (E/ECWA/AGR/WG.12/81/Rev.1), 1982.

This meeting, which was jointly sponsored by ECWA, FAO and ACSAD in cooperation with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, was attended by 61 experts, representing Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, the Yemen Arab Republic, ECWA, FAO, UNESCO, WHO, ACSAD, AOAD (Arab Organization for Agricultural Development) and ICARDA (Inter-national Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas). In all, 29 highquality papers were presented by national, regional and international experts covering the following four main areas: (a) general issues and the nature of the problem; (b) resource conservation and management: operational problems and methodology; (c) technologies in conservation and management of resources in arid and semiarid areas; and (d) the socioeconomic dimension of resource conservation and desertification control. The report presented concrete and action-oriented recommendations in eight specific areas;

(ii) "Planning for integrated agricultural resources management and development in the ECWA region" by K. M. Azam in Desertification Control, No. 8, UNEP, 1983.

This paper presented a logical framework for the development of programmes and activities for resource management and development;

(iii) Agricultural Resources Management and Desertification Control in Iraq (E/ECWA/AGR/83/8), 1984.

The study dealt with physiographic, climatic, phytogeographic and socioeconomic features and the water resources potential in Iraq. It also assessed the rate of current agricultural resources use and the extent and rate of desertification. In addition, it identified the constraints confronting agricultural development in the country and outlined an action programme for the enhancement of agricultural production and desertification control;

(e) Studies on integrated development of mountain farming areas in the ECWA region

(i) Integrated Development Approach for Mountain Farming Areas of the ECWA Region (E/ECWA/AGR/84/7), 1985.

The study defined the physical environment and the extent of mountainous farming areas in the ECWA region and identified the main problems and development and alternatives of such areas, both in general terms applying to the whole of the ECWA region and to a specific country, proposed solutions including ecological guidelines, watershed management guidelines and policy measures. The study also identified technical assistance needs and a number of projects related to the development of mountainous areas in the ECWA region;

(ii) Guidelines for the Integrated Development of Mountain Farming Areas (E/ECWA/AGR/84/8), 1985.

The guidelines specified in this study in relation to the integrated development of mountain farming areas are based on four major principles, namely: environmental, technological, procedural and socioeconomic;

(iii) Integrated Development of Mountain Farming Areas of the ECWA Region: A Case-Study of the Yemen Arab Republic (E/ECWA/AGR/84/9), 1984.

The study dealt with problems encountered in utilizing natural resources under conditions prevailing in mountain areas of the ECWA region in general, and in a specific, deeply incised area in the Yemen Arab Republic's mountains. A set of guidelines regarding an integrated approach to the development of such areas was presented;

(f) Training programmes in resource conservation and desertification control

(i) ESCWA/FAO/DSE/GTZ International Training Course on Planning for Resource Conservation and Desertification Control in the Near East Region, Feldafing, Federal Republic of Germany, 27 July - 24 August 1988.

This training course, which was attended by 24 participants from six ESCWA countries and the Sudan, covered the areas of (a) desertification problems in mountainous regions, pasturelands, rain-fed agricultural lands, irrigated lands and the deforested lands; (b) methods and techniques for the identification of desertification problems; (c) monitoring of desertification processes; (d) economics of resource conservation; and (e) resource conservation strategies. In addition this course included discussion of seven country reports, presented by the participants, and a field trip to Jordan. The teaching faculty comprised experts from the Federal Republic of Germany, DSE/GTZ, FAO and ESCWA. The report of this course is a highly useful primer on resource conservation and de certification control;

(ii) Training Workshop in Economics of Resource Conservation and Land-use Planning, Baghdad, 1113 November 1989.

During this three-day workshop, several lectures were given by the staff of the Joint ESCWA/ FAO Agriculture Division. Participants were from the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and public agricultural organizations. The lectures covered resource conservation and land-use planning, combat of desertification and natural resources management, and planning for integrated agricultural resources management and development.

(g) National Plans of action to combat desertification

The preparation of national plans of action to combat desertification has been a major ESCWA activity since 1986 and plans have been prepared for Jordan (1987), the Yemen Arab Republic (1988), Iraq (1989), the Republic of Yemen (1991), Bahrain (1991), Oman (1992) and the United Arab Emirates (1993).

Although these national plans differ markedly in their details owing to the different socio-economic conditions in each member country, as well as resources potential, land-use practices and policies and other major factors influencing the phenomenon of desertification, the plans are in conformity with regard to the principal topics addressed. The principal components of the main text in these plans are:

(i) Inventory and assessment of the available natural resources, including basic information on the physical environment and human resources;

(ii) Assessment of desertification, indicating its scope, course, impact and trend. The plans also cover the types, extent and severity of desertification in rangelands, forests, rain-fed and irrigated croplands, supported by data;

(iii) Review of the past and ongoing activities or programmes on combating desertification. There are also references to the level of awareness of the phenomenon and the degree of participation by the public, especially the resource users;

(iv) Evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the institutions dealing with the combat of desertification and assessment of the current legislation and administrative procedures;

(v) Presentation of objectives, strategy, policies, priorities, programmes and costing estimates for various activities. Mention is also made of the national participation in the preparation of the plan;

(vi) Proposal for a new institutional structure or changes in the existing structure for the combat of desertification;

(vii) Suggestions regarding legislation to be enacted concerning protection of natural resources such as rangelands, forests, water resources and wildlife, since the misuse of these resources is the chief cause of man-made desertification;

(viii) Presentation of priority programmes and identification of projects for short-term strategy as part of measures to combat desertification. Some of these projects may be documented in such a way that, with only some revision, they could be submitted for bilateral or international financing and subsequent implementation;

(ix) Conclusions and follow-up;

(h) Project formulation

With the approval of, and in cooperation with, the concerned Governments, ESCWA has identified and formulated several desertification control projects as priority measures to combat desertification in these countries. These projects may be executed with financing from some international organizations or through bilateral arrangements. The following project documents have been prepared by ESCWA, independently or in cooperation with FAO and/or UNEP.

Jordan

(a) National Rangelands Development Project in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (E/ESCWA/AGR/86/4), 1986;

(b) Desertification Control Project in Jordan: As-Safawi Integrated Development Project (E/ESCWA/AGR/1992/1), 1992.

Iraq

Reforestation and Rehabilitation of the Swaratuka Resort Watershed Project (E/ESCWA/AGR/89/8), 1990.

Yemen

(a) Resources Conservation and Watershed Management in Wadi Manshiyah, Maghrib Ans District, Yemen Arab Republic (E/ESCWA/AGR/86/1), 1986;

(b) Sand-Dune Stabilization, Afforestation and Shelterbelts in the Tihama, Yemen Arab Republic (E/ESCWA/AGR/88/8), 1988;

(c) Economic Analysis of Sand-Dune Stabilization, Afforestation and Shelterbelt Project in the Tihama. Yemen Arab Republic (E/ESCWA/AGR/88/12), 1989.

2. The future work programme

ESCWA, no doubt, will continue to provide technical assistance and exercise its assigned catalytic role of contributing to the optimum utilization of the region's natural resources for the greater welfare and prosperity of its people.

In this context, ESCWA, through its Agriculture Division, will be involved in the coming years in programmes and activities for developing sound approaches to the solution of problems in natural resource use and management and land-use planning, in the overall context of national resource conservation strategies.

In general, ESCWA should continue its ongoing desertification-related activities, for which a fresh, comprehensive and integrated focus has been presented by Agenda 21 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. The following programmes of Agenda 21 will be of particular relevance to the work of ESCWA in this field in the future. The chapter numbers listed in brackets are those of Agenda 21 and they cover the topics listed below:

- Promoting an integrated approach to land-use planning and sustainable management of land resources (chapters 7 and 10).

- Strengthening the knowledge base and developing information and monitoring systems for regions prone to desertification and droughts, including the economic and social aspects of these ecosystems (chapters 12 and 34).

- Combating land degradation, through, inter alia, intensified soil conservation, water conservation, afforestation and reforestation activities (chapters 11, 12, 14 and 18).

- In conjunction with the rural development subprogramme of the Agriculture Division, developing and strengthening integrated programmes for the eradication of poverty and promotion of alternative and sustainable livelihood systems in areas prone to desertification (chapters 3, 12 and 14).

- Developing comprehensive antidesertification programmes and integrating them into national development plans and national environmental planning (chapter 12).

- Promoting integrated watershed development and sustainable development of mountainous farming areas (chapter 13).

- Developing appropriate training programmes for various levels in planning, management and economics of resource conservation and the combat of desertification (chapter 12).