Harmonising policy to combat desertification
Combating land degradation and desertification is a struggle against the loss of biological productivity due to climate changes and human activities. Unsustainable land management is at the centre of this struggle and it is the role of policy makers at local and international level to help change this. This socio-environmental problem is one in which policy makers play a key role in managing its natural and institutional complexity. Researchers under the umbrella of the EU project MEDACTION 4 developed a general approach to systematically analyse potential policy problems relating to desertification. Using this method as a basis, stakeholders are able to break down the content and structure of a policy and link it to policy objectives, the actors involved, and ways it is being implemented. The intention is that the methodology be used as an aid by the public sector organising bodies which are responsible for policy-making at EU and national level. Current application of the methodology has focused on testing existing policies for the contribution they make, be it directly or indirectly, to desertification. Evaluations of these existing policies, such as those concerning regional and rural development, tourism and economic policies were conducted using case studies in regions in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Using this method it is hoped that all the stakeholders involved or impacted upon by desertification policies, will benefit from the provision of mutually supportive and non-conflicting policies.
