330
M. Candelori, A. R. Gentile, L. Genesio
Following the first recommendation of the COP, a sub-regional workshop on the
Desertification Information Systems for planning needs in the Mediterranean area
was held in November 1998 in Marrakech, Morocco, jointly sponsored by the
UNCCD Secretariat, the Authorities of Morocco and Italy. It convened
representatives of Northern Mediterranean and of Northern Africa countries, as well
as international and sub-regional organizations.
The participants to the Marrakech workshop recommended to the Northern
Mediterranean and the Northern African countries to explore the possibility of
establishing an operational information system for planning purposes, to potentially
service all Mediterranean partners, taking into account the existing local capacities
and facilities. They also urged countries to establish a close collaboration for the
harmonisation of the methodologies of exchange of information related to all aspects
of land degradation I .
The present project document was prepared in co-operation with the European
Environment Agency (EEA) and the CeSIA of Italy, both institution having been
involved in the preparation of and follow-up to the Marrakech meeting.
2 The Project Area
The Mediterranean basin represents one of the world's most complex systems, as it
includes countries bearing many different characteristics in terms of economic
structures and productive systems, as well as of ecosystems and culture. The
Mediterranean countries have been developing since centuries in a framework of a
long history of interaction and integration.
'The participants to the Marrakech workshop made the following recommendations:
a) to co-ordinate their existing information systems and to develop and strengthen a permanent
system of communication among the different actors involved in combatting desertification and in
the reduction of drought effects;
b) to harmonise the existing database processing and to facilitate reciprocal understanding
among the different partners and actors involved in combatting desertification;
c) to strengthen collaboration and co-operation among the worlds of science, economy and
policy, towards effective implementation of the Convention;
d) to promote and strengthen the transfer of technology between the Mediterranean parties
involved, in the fields of analysis and processing of information on desertification;
e) in conformity with the 22/COP.1 paragraph 2 decision on benchmarks and indicators, to
initiate testing the methodology contained in document AI AC.24 I IInfA, as revised in document
ICCO/COP(l)/CST/3/Add.1. Participants to the workshop also asked for the evaluation of the
possibility and the utility of using such indicators in the national reports to be submitted to the
COP;
f) to identify, process and utilise a minimum set of common impact indicators for the
Mediterranean, being they physical, biological and socio-economic. This set of indicators will be
representative of the Northern and Southern Mediterranean, describe the key issues. The existing
data and the cost/effectiveness of this exercise should be taken into consideration.
g) to establish partnership agreements to test the above set of impact indicators as well as the
methodology proposed to the first Conference of Parties.
M. Candelori, A. R. Gentile, L. Genesio
Following the first recommendation of the COP, a sub-regional workshop on the
Desertification Information Systems for planning needs in the Mediterranean area
was held in November 1998 in Marrakech, Morocco, jointly sponsored by the
UNCCD Secretariat, the Authorities of Morocco and Italy. It convened
representatives of Northern Mediterranean and of Northern Africa countries, as well
as international and sub-regional organizations.
The participants to the Marrakech workshop recommended to the Northern
Mediterranean and the Northern African countries to explore the possibility of
establishing an operational information system for planning purposes, to potentially
service all Mediterranean partners, taking into account the existing local capacities
and facilities. They also urged countries to establish a close collaboration for the
harmonisation of the methodologies of exchange of information related to all aspects
of land degradation I .
The present project document was prepared in co-operation with the European
Environment Agency (EEA) and the CeSIA of Italy, both institution having been
involved in the preparation of and follow-up to the Marrakech meeting.
2 The Project Area
The Mediterranean basin represents one of the world's most complex systems, as it
includes countries bearing many different characteristics in terms of economic
structures and productive systems, as well as of ecosystems and culture. The
Mediterranean countries have been developing since centuries in a framework of a
long history of interaction and integration.
'The participants to the Marrakech workshop made the following recommendations:
a) to co-ordinate their existing information systems and to develop and strengthen a permanent
system of communication among the different actors involved in combatting desertification and in
the reduction of drought effects;
b) to harmonise the existing database processing and to facilitate reciprocal understanding
among the different partners and actors involved in combatting desertification;
c) to strengthen collaboration and co-operation among the worlds of science, economy and
policy, towards effective implementation of the Convention;
d) to promote and strengthen the transfer of technology between the Mediterranean parties
involved, in the fields of analysis and processing of information on desertification;
e) in conformity with the 22/COP.1 paragraph 2 decision on benchmarks and indicators, to
initiate testing the methodology contained in document AI AC.24 I IInfA, as revised in document
ICCO/COP(l)/CST/3/Add.1. Participants to the workshop also asked for the evaluation of the
possibility and the utility of using such indicators in the national reports to be submitted to the
COP;
f) to identify, process and utilise a minimum set of common impact indicators for the
Mediterranean, being they physical, biological and socio-economic. This set of indicators will be
representative of the Northern and Southern Mediterranean, describe the key issues. The existing
data and the cost/effectiveness of this exercise should be taken into consideration.
g) to establish partnership agreements to test the above set of impact indicators as well as the
methodology proposed to the first Conference of Parties.