Tehran, 17 June 2009 – On the World Day to Combat Desertification, it is important to highlight that desertification and land degradation are not only global problems but also a national problem for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

UNDP’s Resident Representative at interim (RR a.i.) Ms. Elzira Sagynbaeva and the Programme Analyst for the Energy and Environment cluster; Mr. Saeid Ferdowsi attended a UNDP-Government joint event at the Forest Rangeland and Watershed Management Organization (FRWMO) Headquarters in Tehran, to commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD).

The Resident Coordinator at interim (RC a.i.) Mr Sunil Narula, who also attended the event, read the Secretary General’s message for the World Day to Combat Desertification. The message in particularly stressed the need for “adequate and predictable financing to support improved land management, more efficient water use and sustainable agriculture”, which also highlights this year's theme which is the following:

In her speech, Ms. Sagynbaeva stressed the importance of this day by outlining the serious impact desertification, land degradation and drought can have on communities; “it threatens human security by depriving people of their means of life – by taking away food, access to water, the means for economic activities, and even their homes.” She further continued by elaborating on UNDP’s role in combating this challenge and the goal its national programme follows; “With a focus on national and local capacity building, our projects try to demonstrate pilot models of integrated and participatory approaches to environmental protection and natural resource management, and I am happy to note that the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture has been a key partner of our projects in the past decade”.

Ms. Sagynbaeva concluded by emphasizing that UN observance is of particular importance to this country and region – a region that is highly vulnerable to the consequences of both desertification and drought. Finally, she praised the FRWMO for their efforts in combating this challenge and spoke on their successful partnership and future by stating, “Based on the good experience of cooperation with the FRWMO, I wish to confirm the UNDP’s readiness to expand its joint work with the Organization as widely as possible.”

Desertification is an effect of unsustainable natural resource management practices and climate change. Through its Carbon Sequestration Project in the Hossein Abad area in South Khorasan, UNDP Iran has with the Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Management Organisation and the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture, implemented a community based approach to sequester atmospheric carbon and reclaim desertified rangelands. The project has shown how a community based approach to sustainable natural resource management can result in both new livelihood opportunities for rural communities and empowering these communities, and in particular women who are participating in the decision making process related to their environment.

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.