Special Issue on Converting Deserts into Oasis

Abstract

The Alliance of centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and their partners have been engaged in scientific research and development globally to combat drought and desertification. These science-based efforts have made available innovations for the better use of natural resources, and formulation of policies that help people cope with desertification. The results of such an effort have been worldwide, especially for sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The research-for-development outputs include breeding crop cultivars for drought tolerance, sustainable soil and water management and natural resource conserving technologies. The year 2006 was declared the International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD) by the United Nations. During 2006, the Alliance of centers of the CGIAR endorsed a collective initiative termed "Oasis" to redouble efforts· to combat drought and desertification in the drylands of the developing world. This communication briefly outlines the objective of Oasis and its researchfor-development agenda and experiences in partnership with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).