The Hindu Business Line : Combating desertification is need of the hour

World Environment Day, commemorated each year on June 5, is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day theme selected for 2006 is Deserts and Desertification and the slogan is `Don't Desert Drylands'. The slogan emphasises the importance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40 per cent of the planet's surface and affect more than a billion people. This ecosystem is home to one-third of the world's people, who are more vulnerable members of society.

Desertification is defined as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities.

Causes of desertification due to human activities are mainly agricultural - deforestation, over-cultivation of land resulting in soil exhaustion, and poor irrigation practices, which raises salinity and sometimes dry the rivers that feed large lakes. Consumption of fossil fuels and CFCs and emissions from coal burning power plants, which result in global warming and lead to drought, also place the total land surface at risk from desertification.

The main international celebrations of the World Environment Day 2006 will be held in Algeria. UNEP is honoured that Algiers will be hosting this UN day.

Do you know?

Every year, since 1974, various aspects of environment have been selected as theme to protect the world from different kinds of deterioration.

2005 - Green Cities - Plan for the Planet!

2004 - Wanted! Seas and Oceans - Dead or Alive?

2003 - Water - Two Billion People are Dying for It!

2002 - Give Earth a Chance

2001 - Connect with the World Wide Web of Life

2000 - The Environment Millennium - Time to Act

1999 - Our Earth - Our Future - Just Save It!

1998 - For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas

1997 - For Life on Earth

1996 - Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home

1995 - We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment

1994 - One Earth One Family

1993 - Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the Vicious Circle

1992 - Only One Earth, Care and Share

1991 - Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership

1990 - Children and the Environment

1989 - Global Warming; Global Warning

1988 - When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last

1987 - Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof

1986 - A Tree for Peace

1985 - Youth: Population and the Environment

1984 - Desertification

1983 - Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy

1982 - Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)

1981 - Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains

1980 - A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction

1979 - Only One Future for Our Children - Development Without Destruction

1978 - Development Without Destruction

1977 - Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation

1976 - Water: Vital Resource for Life

1975 - Human Settlements

1974 - Only One Earth

This year it has been decided to empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership that will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests is involved in implementing polices and programmes for conservation of the countries natural resources by protection of environment, afforestation and regeneration of degraded areas, prevention and control of pollution, conservation of flora, fauna, forests and wild life and ensuring the welfare of animals.

What can be your contribution towards better world?

Prevent paving around trees

Channelise run off water

Set up green harvesting system

Create and maintain vegetative plots

Save paper, use recycled paper

Avoid using polybags as they are non-biodegradable

Reduce use of air-conditioners

Buy CFC-free refrigerators

Do not buy wildlife products

Respect local culture and livelihood