FIGHT AGAINST DESERTIFICATION

“...'desertification' means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities;” (United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCCD)).

The land degradation is a gradual process of soil productivity loss, water resources deterioration and the thinning out of the vegetative cover. Desertification also has serious natural consequences. It makes land areas flood-prone, causes soil salinisation, results in the deterioration of the quality of water, silting of rivers, streams and reservoirs.

The land's loss of productivity exacerbates recurring food crisis, lack of health care and poverty in the rural drylands, forcing its farmers to look for better living conditions in more fertile lands or cities. Because of the climate, human pressure and various factors desertification increases. For the last ten years, land degradation affected over 40 hectares in the sahelian region.

Through an integrated development approach, Eau Vive works to combat desertification. Among practical measures undertaken by Eau Vive to prevent and restore degraded land are :

• prevention of soil erosion : afforestation and reforestation, windbreaks and shelterbelts of live plants, anti erosion lines, zai holes
• training for environmentally sound human settlements : sustainable pasture, forest and livestock management,
• education and communications towards the population, local officials in order to provide the fully integrated approach which alone can effectively combat desertification,
• strengthening local management committees to sustain the initiatives and improve integrated approach of resource management.