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What did the 1977 United Nations Conference on Desertification in Nairobi address?
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desertification
Young trees planted to hinder sandstorms and reverse desertification in the Xihu preservation area of the Gobi Desert, near Dunhuang, China.
The 1977 United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCOD) held in Nairobi, Kenya, marked the first time representatives and delegates formally addressed the global effects of desertification.
During the conference, participants explored several key areas:
- Causes and Factors: The delegates examined the underlying causes of desertification, including variations in climate and unsustainable land-management practices in dryland ecosystems.
- Solutions: The conference investigated potential local and regional strategies to mitigate the phenomenon.
- Consequences: The delegates analyzed the wide-ranging impacts of desertification, such as:
- Agricultural issues, including crop failures and reduced yields.
- Ecological degradation, such as the loss of perennial plant cover and reduced woody biomass.
- Resource scarcity, including a decrease in groundwater and potable water stocks.
- Physical and environmental hazards, such as increased sand dune intrusion, flooding caused by sedimentation, and increased pollution.1