Land

EMG members in response to the calls by Governments for a coherent UN system-wide response to the land challenges (see extract from GEO4), established in September 2009, the Issue Management Group on land for a period of two years. The IMG should propose options for a coherent United Nations system wide contribution to land challenges, including the implementation of the 10 year strategic plan of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa.

The IMG is also tasked to prepare a United Nations system wide rapid response report on drylands highlighting the importance of drylands to key emerging issues on the global agenda, including climate change, food security and human settlements together with options for follow-up action, for consideration by the senior officials of the Environment Management Group at their sixteenth meeting in 2010. The report will set out a common vision and agenda for action on drylands managements and its role in addressing climate change and food security.

Report of the first meeting of the Issue Management Group on land (24-25 November 2009-Bonn-Germany)