Held under the theme Economic opportunities in the drylands, this years Conference seeks to mark a further milestone on the road to achieving sustainable development and reducing rural poverty. This also advocates a twin-track route towards achieving poverty reduction and sustainability in the rural drylands through increased land productivity and provision of alternative livelihoods.

South Africa has ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and Effects of Drought in September 1997 and has since committed itself to the development and implementation of a long time strategy to address issues relating to desertification and land degradation.

In 2002 during the WSSD the UNCCD was identified as one of the important instruments at the disposal of the international community for poverty eradication and food security in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas of our planet, of which South Africa is one.

It provides a framework for countries affected by desertification to address the problem of land degradation effectively at local and national levels.

The objective of the convention is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, on the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.

Speaking at the conference the Deputy Minister said Land degradation is not only a major obstacle to regional economic development, but also poses a serious threat to biodiversity which constitutes a natural base for long term human well being. She also pointed out that the huge economic opportunities presented by drylands, require joint efforts to promote sustainable development in these areas.

Reflecting on the negative impact of desertification she mentioned that desertification occurs on all continents and affects the livelihoods of millions of people including large proportion of the poor in dryland areas. The effects of desertification and land degradation are experienced locally, nationally regionally and globally.

Land degradation especially desertification and deforestation has triggered large-scale population movements, disrupted economic development prospects, aggravated regional conflicts and instability, and threatened the lives and livelihoods of people living under its shadow. Desertification takes a particularly serious toll on those who depend most directly on natural resources for their survival-the poorest of the poor

The Declaration of Members of Parliament during UNCCD COP6 pledged commitment made at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD),
improving sustainable agricultural productivity and food security,
significantly reducing loss of biological diversity by 2010 and
strengthening the implementation of the UNCCD in areas affected by desertification particularly in Africa.
This commitment is further being re-enforced at this meeting, said the Deputy Minister.
This Seventh Session focuses on Africa, while setting new strategic impulses for implementation of the Convention in the rest of the world at COP 8 in two years time. The Conference also marks the launch of the 2006 International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD), which was called by the UN General Assembly in an effort to curb desertification around the globe.
The High level segment of the UNCCD ends on the 25th October.