Indicators and Information Requirements for Combatting Desertification
99
local level information (on a socio-economic and political! cultural
"catchment" scale) for sites of special concern on local knowledge, local
level priorities/ perceptions of environmental issues, decision making on
land use/ resources, response to change in climate, policy, institutions and
interventions.
3.3 Conclusions
The scientific contribution of the European Union to UN-CCO is a valuable asset
and an added value to help combating desertification processes both within and
outside Europe. Many of the existing research programmes and databases have a
documented potential which can be used at multiple levels of intervention.
A major homework for the European Commission should be:
to stimulate improved access, quality, user friendliness, documentation, and
integration of the various sources of data and information;
to co-ordinate its activities with other international and national institutions;
to provide a conceptual framework for mitigation research.
The research community, on the other hand, should make better use of the
instruments offered by the EC, such as INca II, particularly in relation to joint
research actions, concerted actions, and thematic networks related to combating
desertification.
It was suggested to propose a thematic network dealing with 'mitigation of
desertification', to be organised among research and database institutions working
in this field inside and outside Europe. This would allow to enhance methodological
approaches, from disciplinary to transdisciplinary, and to develop a research strategy
focusing on desertification mitigation, including the monitoring of key problems and
the finding of pathways for mitigation. In particular, tools could be developed for
monitoring, appraisals, predictions, and mitigation scenarios, including the
identification of bio-physical and socio-economic indicator systems.
4 Study on Desertification Indicators for the European
Mediterranean Region: State of the Art and Possible
Methodological Approaches
4.1 Objectives
This study, that the Nucelo di Ricerca sulla Oesertificazione has presented at the
UN-CCO Secretariat at the Fourth Conference of the Parties, constitutes the natural
prosecution of the Seminar held in Porto Torres and of the Workshop held in
Alghero, providing a first answer to the questions emerged from them. It also
99
local level information (on a socio-economic and political! cultural
"catchment" scale) for sites of special concern on local knowledge, local
level priorities/ perceptions of environmental issues, decision making on
land use/ resources, response to change in climate, policy, institutions and
interventions.
3.3 Conclusions
The scientific contribution of the European Union to UN-CCO is a valuable asset
and an added value to help combating desertification processes both within and
outside Europe. Many of the existing research programmes and databases have a
documented potential which can be used at multiple levels of intervention.
A major homework for the European Commission should be:
to stimulate improved access, quality, user friendliness, documentation, and
integration of the various sources of data and information;
to co-ordinate its activities with other international and national institutions;
to provide a conceptual framework for mitigation research.
The research community, on the other hand, should make better use of the
instruments offered by the EC, such as INca II, particularly in relation to joint
research actions, concerted actions, and thematic networks related to combating
desertification.
It was suggested to propose a thematic network dealing with 'mitigation of
desertification', to be organised among research and database institutions working
in this field inside and outside Europe. This would allow to enhance methodological
approaches, from disciplinary to transdisciplinary, and to develop a research strategy
focusing on desertification mitigation, including the monitoring of key problems and
the finding of pathways for mitigation. In particular, tools could be developed for
monitoring, appraisals, predictions, and mitigation scenarios, including the
identification of bio-physical and socio-economic indicator systems.
4 Study on Desertification Indicators for the European
Mediterranean Region: State of the Art and Possible
Methodological Approaches
4.1 Objectives
This study, that the Nucelo di Ricerca sulla Oesertificazione has presented at the
UN-CCO Secretariat at the Fourth Conference of the Parties, constitutes the natural
prosecution of the Seminar held in Porto Torres and of the Workshop held in
Alghero, providing a first answer to the questions emerged from them. It also