This study was initiated at TAC 65 in October 1994 in Washington, with a discussion of a study proposal. The Committee decided that the study should be TAC-led, and appointed two TAC members, Drs. Hans Gregersen and Ted Henzell, as co-convenors for the conduct of the study. At TAC 66 in March 1995 in Lima, the Committee discussed a framework paper prepared by the co-convenors in collaboration with the TAC Secretariat, to guide the study and endorsed its terms of reference. The TAC Secretariat subsequently recruited six consultants (Drs. Inder Abrol, Walter Couto, Malin Falkenmark, Dennis Greenland, Fredrick Muchena and Norman Uphoff) to write background papers on specific themes, which were subsequently integrated in a review paper by two further consultants, Drs. Bernard Tinker and Jock Anderson. Another consultant, Dr. Filemon Torres, compiled the information on relevant Centre activities.
A meeting, attended by the co-convenors and five of the consultants, was held in Rome from 14-16 June 1995 to discuss the background and synthesis papers. The outcome of the meeting led to the preparation of an early draft of the attached report, which was considered by TAC at TAC 67 in July 1995. Subsequently, the draft report and the two annexes were distributed for comments to CGIAR Centre Directors, FAO, the Directors of IBSRAM, IFDC and TSBF and several resource persons. The comments received were incorporated in the next revised draft, which was made available to the Group at ICW'95, and was discussed by TAC at TAC 68 in December 1995. Subsequently, the draft report was finalized and considered by TAC at TAC 69 in March 1996.
The CGIAR Centres, FAO and other international organizations working in the field of soil and water research cooperated fully during the course of this study. In particular, there was constant interchange of ideas between the co-convenors and the leaders of the Soil, Water, and Nutrient Management (SWMN) Programme - in Zschortau in September 1994; in Rome in December 1994; in Nairobi in May 1995, and in Feldafing and Rome in June 1995. Also, despite the short time available, Centres made a major effort to provide the information requested on current CGIAR activities on soil and water research. Further, the co-convenors were in close contact with the CGIAR Task Forces on Sustainable Agriculture and on Ecoregional Approaches to Research.
While this report reflects the views of TAC, Drs. Hans Gregersen and Ted Henzell were principally responsible for preparing its main body. Drs. Bernard Tinker and Jock Anderson prepared the background document A Strategic Review of Natural Resources Management Research on Soil and Water (SDR/TAC:IAR/96/9), drawing on the work of the other consultants. Dr. Filemon Torres was responsible for preparing the background document A Synthesis of Current Activities in Soil and Water Research in the CGIAR (SDR/TAC:IAR/96/10). Dr. Amir Kassam served as resource person from the TAC Secretariat. The composition of the study group is provided in Annex II.
Jennifer Parise and Ann Drummond were responsible for coordination and preparation of successive manuscripts, and together with Marioara Lantini and Irmi Braun of the TAC Secretariat, provided logistical support to the study.
Guido Gryseels
Officer-in-Charge
TAC Secretariat
