Statement by
H.E. Mr. Daniel Ayalon, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,
High Level Meeting on Desertification
20 September 2011

Thank you Co-Chairs.

 

Land has been the source of sustenance for the human race throughout the course of our history. Even with great technological progress, this has not changed. We all share this fundamental dependence. However, while we all need the yields of our land, not all land is equal. Forty percent of the land on earth is significantly less fertile than the other sixty percent. One-third of humanity, including the people of my country, lives in areas where the land is dry and of low-productivity. Low-fertility land is also more prone to degradation by human use and devastated by increased incidence of drought. This phenomenon of “desertification” can cripple agriculture and industry. It can have tragic consequences on human life.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

 

While desertification is most apparent in the 40% of land in the world that has low-productivity, this problem is now becoming apparent across the rest of the earth’s surface.

The spread of desertification is a result of excessive human pressure on the land – and is exacerbated by global climate change. Land degradation follows a number of other alarming worldwide trends, namely climate change, huge rises in population growth, increased consumption, and unmanageable islands of poverty. These developments present a serious and unsustainable situation.

Israel has paid close attention to the efforts of the UNCCD, Rio Conventions, the CBD and the UNFCCC. All of these bodies are working in unison to find proactive solutions to this global problem. This synergy between international bodies is a welcome sign that desertification is receiving the attention it desperately needs.

Serious action to combat desertification calls for three basic initiatives:

First and foremost, we must clearly outline attainable goals for combating desertification. Second, we must establish an independent, credible, and politically legitimate global scientific authority on soil and land issues. Finally, we need an international framework that proactively and vigorously attends to soil and land issues globally. This is the mandate of the UNCCD, just as the UNFCCC attends to climate change, and the CBD attends to biodiversity. The process of broadening the scope of this legally-binding international instrument has already started, and we hope that from this High Level Meeting, the call for supporting the UNCCD as the Land Convention will be heard loud and clear.

The entire international community must band together. Countries must share their experiences and implement practical, scientifically-supported solutions.

For decades, Israel has been at the forefront of this effort. We have been closely involved in the UNCCD process.

Israel continues to share its extensive expertise in overcoming the challenges of its naturally deficient, arid lands. MASHAV — Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation – has introduced international cooperative training programs, project development, and research to combat desertification around the world. This includes efforts in areas such as climate change, soil erosion, salinization, groundwater management, and forestation.

Israel is especially active in areas facing severe desertification, specifically in the rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. Our programs place special emphasis on empowering small holder farmers, especially women, by implementing the Israeli concept of TIPA. TIPA is a management package optimizes agricultural production, using low-pressure drip-irrigation and a mix of vegetables and tree crops.

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

We hope that all stakeholders in next year’s Rio+20 Conference will work cooperatively to reach our common goal of global sustainability. This can only be accomplished with productive land that is supported by functional biodiversity, a balanced atmosphere and a stable climate.

Thank you.