The DESIRE Project for Greener Land

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Productive land is scarce and, partly because everyone likes to use the best land available, is often threatened by degradation and desertification processes that reduce its productivity. This is especially the case in dryland areas. More than 1 billion people, many of whom are farmers who depend on the land for their livelihoods or even their survival, live in affected areas. Preventing desertification is critically important, as is restoration where it has occurred.

DESIRE—Desertification Mitigation and Remediation of Land, a “global approach to local solutions”—is a research network focused on building a learning community among scientists and practitioners. DESIRE offers fresh thinking and practical solutions to the problems of land degradation and soil and water conservation, especially in dryland areas. It is a knowledge management hub for sustainable dryland management. Since its launch in 2007, using a unique approach developed by the project, DESIRE has gathered about 40 case studies in the WOCAT—World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies—format (www.wocat.net). Problems addressed range from wind and water erosion to salinization, vegetation degradation, competition for access to water, forest fires, and droughts. Findings from the project have been published in the Desire for Greener Land.20

In short, the DESIRE project is a like toolbox that contains a variety of solutions and advice on how to “treat sick” land. The DESIRE approach is to identify, scientifically assess, and develop sustainable local land management strategies in partnership with stakeholder groups. It also places priority on integrating social and economic aspects, including gender issues and economic analysis, into land management strategies. DESIRE offers guidance and accessible tools to support decision making, evaluate sustainable land management activities, and disseminate the results.

DESIRE is a partnership between Alterra Wageningen University in the Netherlands and 25 other partners worldwide. Funded by the European Union, DESIRE works in close collaboration with the WOCAT network.

Web site: http://www.desire-project.eu, http://www.desire-his.eu