November, 16, 1999

Present Status and Perspectives of Japanese Research Activities for Combating Desertification and Land Degradation and the Development in the Framework of Proposed TPNs and CST Strategies

(Draft arranged by the Global Environmental Forum)

Prof. Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi

Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences

The University of Tokyo

Japan has contributed to obtain necessary knowledge through wide-raging themes of survey and research including conservation of soil and water resources, agricultural and socioeconomic development in order to develop the effective method for combating desertification in various parts of arid lands. Japan has also conducted considerable amounts of survey and research on desertification by selected National Research Institutes and Universities using the budget such as “Global environment Research Fund” operated by the Environment Agency.

National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Environment Agency, National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo are actively involved in desertification control studies. Followings are the examples of Japanese survey and research projects organized by the national research institutes for combating desertification and land degradation.

１） Study on Evaluation of Prevention and Remedies for Desertification (National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences and National Research Institute of Agricultural Economics)

２） Study on the Development of Technology for the Rehabilitation of Soil with Salt Accumulation (Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Science)

３） Study on Application of Desertification Preventive Technologies for Sustainable Land Use (National Institute of Agro-environmental Sciences)

４） Synthetic Analysis of Researches on Desertification and Systematization of Technologies for Desertification and Systematization of Technologies for Desertification Control (National Institute for Environmental Studies)

５） The Model Project for Effective Use of Groundwater in Burkina Faso (Environment Agency)

In parallel with the movement being materialized since 1998 when TPN activities in Asia started, the possibility of research collaboration in compliance with the TPN framework has been considered in Japan. Japanese researchers attended at the International Expert Group Meeting on the Regional Action Programme for UNCCD in Asia, which was held in November 1998 in Bangkok. They also attended the Launching Meeting for Asian Thematic Programme Network on Desertification Monitoring and Assessment (TPN1), which was held in July 1999 in Beijing, and outcome of the meetings attracted fairly high attention in Japan as well. In March 1999, the ‘Workshop on Regional Research Cooperation to Combat Desertification in Asia’ was held in Tokyo and the invited researchers and experts from Asian countries discussed on the possibilities of research collaboration regarding TPN 1, 2 and 3.

In line with this trend, the Japan Environment Agency commissioned the Global Environmental Forum to organize the Committee for Research on Combating Desertification and Land Degradation in Asia and Africa Thus the committee started its discussions especially on the system and method how to make contribution to the TPNs and CST. To contribute to TPN1, which was concretely discussed on its mandate in Beijing in 1999, a working group was launched under this committee whose mission includes:

１）Development of methodology for the evaluation of biological productivity using satellite remote sensing and its application to desertification assessment.

２）Consideration of benchmark and indicators on desertification including development appropriate indicators for Asian countries.

３）Review on Early Warning System for Desertification in African and Asian countries.

In Japan, researchers and relevant organizations are required at international level to create the networks and systems for international joint research, to increase cooperation with researchers in other countries and at national level to make international activities. In this regard, the establishment of an organization of researchers under each TPN theme and setting up the respective research topics are urgent needs for the development of survey and research for combating desertification and land degradation, in particular in the socioeconomic aspects. The expected research topics discussed in the Committee for Research on Combating Desertification and Land Degradation, Global Environmental Forum includes:

１）Contribution for Establishing scientific and objective methods to assess and monitor desertification from the view of biological productivity.

２）Development of impact indicators for desertification assessment and modeling in Asian Region.

３）Establishment of network of international research collaboration.

４）Research on participatory approach in each phases of preparation, adoption, implementation, evaluation and feedback of local plan to combat desertification.

５) Establishment of database that contains various initiatives including regional and national organizations, institutions, NGOs that are involved in combating desertification in Asia.

６) Developing a sustainable land use system that include agro-forestry, dryland agriculture, management of rangeland and also include systems to evaluate the optimal land uses, evaluation of the vulnerability in each plot of land, reevaluating traditional farming technologies, and combining such technologies with modern farming methods.

7) Research on measures to effective use of natural and small-scale energy that can be managed at local level such as solar cocker, windmill and so on.