a.
Strengthen or establish international, regional and subregional technical working groups
with specific terms of reference and budgets to promote the integrated use of land
resources for agriculture, planning, data collection and diffusion of simulation models of
production and information dissemination;
b.
Develop internationally acceptable methodologies for the establishment of databases,
description of land uses and multiple goal optimization.
Means of implementation
(a) Financing and cost evaluation
14.39. The Conference secretariat has estimat ed the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $1.7 billion, including about $250 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order-of- magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non-concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.
(b) Scientific and technological means
14.40.
Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional
organizations, should:
a.
Develop databases and geographical information systems to store and display physical,
social and economic information pertaining to agriculture, and the definition of
ecological zones and development areas;
b.
Select combinations of land uses and production systems appropriate to land units
through multiple goal optimization procedures, and strengthen delivery systems and local
community participation;
c.
Encourage integrated planning at the watershed and landscape level to reduce soil loss
and protect surface and groundwater resources from chemical pollution.
(c) Human resource development
14.41.
Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional
organizations, should:
a.
Train professionals and planning groups at national, district and village levels through
formal and informal instructional courses, travel and interaction;
b.
Generate discussion at all levels on policy, development and environmental issues related
to agricultural land use and management, through media programmes, conferences and
seminars.
(d) Capacity-building
14.42.
Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional
organizations, should:
a.
Establish land-resource mapping and planning units at national, district and village levels
to act as focal points and links between institutions and disciplines, and between
Governments and people;
b.
Establish or strengthen Governments and international institutions with responsibility for
agricultural resource survey, management and development; rationalize and strengthen
legal frameworks; and provide equipment and technical assistance.
E. Land conservation and rehabilitation
Basis for action
14.43. Land degradation is the most important environmental problem affecting extensive areas of land in both developed and developing countries. The problem of soil erosion is particular ly acute in developing countries, while problems of salinization, waterlogging, soil pollution and loss of soil fertility are increasing in all countries. Land degradation is serious because the productivity of huge areas of land is declining just when pop ulations are increasing rapidly and the demand on the land is growing to produce more food, fibre and fuel. Efforts to control land degradation, particularly in developing countries, have had limited success to date. Well planned, long -term national and re gional land conservation and rehabilitation programmes, with strong political support and adequate funding, are now needed. While land -use planning and land zoning, combined with better land management, should provide long -term solutions, it is urgent to a rrest land degradation and launch conservation and rehabilitation programmes in the most critically affected and vulnerable areas.
Objectives
14.44. The objectives of this programme area are:
a. By the year 2000, to review and initiate, as appropriate, national land-resource surveys,
detailing the location, extent and severity of land degradation;
b. To prepare and implement comprehensive policies and programmes leading to the
reclamation of degraded lands and the conservation of areas at risk, as well as improve
the general planning, management and utilization of land resources and preserve soil
fertility for sustainable agricultural development.
Activities
(a) Management-related activities
14.45. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevan t international and regional
organizations, should:
a. Develop and implement programmes to remove and resolve the physical, social and
economic causes of land degradation, such as land tenure, appropriate trading systems
and agricultural pricing structures, which lead to inappropriate land -use management;
b. Provide incentives and, where appropriate and possible, resources for the participation of
local communities in the planning, implementation and maintenance of their own
conservation and reclamation program mes;
c. Develop and implement programmes for the rehabilitation of land degraded by water -
logging and salinity;
d. Develop and implement programmes for the progressive use of non -cultivated land with
agricultural potential in a sustainable way.
(b) Data and information
14.46. Governments, at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional
organizations, should:
a. Conduct periodic surveys to assess the extent and state of its land resources;
b. Strengthen and establish national land -resource data banks, including identification of the
location, extent and severity of existing land degradation, as well as areas at risk, and
evaluate the progress of the conservation and rehabilitation programmes launched in this
regard;
c. Collect and reco rd information on indigenous conservation and rehabilitation practices
and farming systems as a basis for research and extension programmes.
(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination
14.47. The appropriate United Nations agencies, regional or ganizations and non -governmental
organizations should:
a. Develop priority conservation and rehabilitation programmes with advisory services to
Governments and regional organizations;
b. Establish regional and subregional networks for scientists and technician s to exchange
experiences, develop joint programmes and spread successful technologies on land
conservation and rehabilitation.
Means of implementation
(a) Financing and cost evaluation
14.48. The Conference secretariat has estimated the average total annual cost (1993-2000) of implementing the activities of this programme to be about $5 billion, including about $800 million from the international community on grant or concessional terms. These are indicative and order -of- magnitude estimates only and have not been reviewed by Governments. Actual costs and financial terms, including any that are non -concessional, will depend upon, inter alia, the specific strategies and programmes Governments decide upon for implementation.
(b) Scientific and technological me ans
14.49. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should help farming household communities to investigate and promote site -specific technologies and farming systems that conserve and reh abilitate land, while increasing agricultural production, including conservation tillage agroforestry, terracing and mixed cropping.
(c) Human resource development
14.50. Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should train field staff and land users in indigenous and modern techniques of conservation and rehabilitation and should establish training facilities for extension staff and land users.
(d) Capacity-building
14.51. Governments at th e appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional
organizations, should:
a. Develop and strengthen national research institutional capacity to identify and implement
effective conservation and rehabilitation practices that are appropriate to the existing
socio-economic physical conditions of the land users;
b. Coordinate all land conservation and rehabilitation policies, strategies and programmes
with related ongoing programmes, such as national environment action plans, the
Tropical Forestry Action Plan and national development programmes.
F. Water for sustainable food production and sustainable rural development
14.52. This programme area is included in chapter 18 (Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources), programme area F.
G. Conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and sustainable agriculture
Basis for action
14.53.
Plant genetic resources for agriculture (PGRFA) are an essential resource to meet future needs for
food. Threats t o the security of these resources are growing, and efforts to conserve, develop and use
genetic diversity are underfunded and understaffed. Many existing gene banks provide inadequate
security and, in some instances, the loss of plant genetic diversity in gene banks is as great as it is in
the field.
14.54. The primary objective is to safeguard the world's genetic resources while preserving them to use sustainably. This includes the development of measures to facilitate the conservation and use of plant genetic resources, networks of in situ conservation areas and use of tools such as ex situ collections and germ plasma banks. Special emphasis could be placed on the building of endogenous capacity for characterization, evaluation and utilization of PGRFA, particularly for the minor crops and other underutilized or non-utilized species of food and agriculture, including tree species for agro-forestry. Subsequent action could be aimed at consolidation and efficient management of networks of in situ conservation areas and use of tools such as ex situ collections and germ plasma banks.
14.55. Major gaps and weaknesses exist in the capacity of existing national and international mechanisms to assess, study, monitor and use plant genetic resources to increase food production. Existing institutional capacity, structures and programmes are generally inadequate and largely underfunded. There is genetic erosion of invaluable crop species. Existing diversity in crop species is not used to the extent possible for increased food production in a sustainable way. 4/
Objectives
14.56.
The objectives of this programme area are:
a.
To complete the first regeneration and safe duplication of existing ex situ collections on a
world-wide basis as soon as possible;
b.
To collect and study plants useful for increasing food production through joint activities,
including training, within the framework of networks of collaborating institutions;
c.
Not later than the year 2000, to adopt policies and strengthen or establish programmes for
in situ on-farm and ex situ conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for
food and agriculture, integrated into strategies and programmes for sustainable
agriculture;
d.
To take appropriate measures for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits and results of
research and development in plant breeding between the sources and users of plant
genetic resources.
Activities
(a) Management-related activities
14.57.
Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional
organizations, should:
a.
Develop and strengthen institutional capacity, structures and programmes for
conservation and use of PGRFA;
b.
Strengthen and establish research in the public domain on PGRFA evaluation and
utilization, with the objectives of sustainable agriculture and rural development in view;
c.
Develop multiplication/propagation, exchange and dissemination facilities for PGRFAs
(seeds and planting materials), particularly in developing countries and monitor, control
and evaluate plant introductions;
d.
Prepare plans or programmes of priority action on conservation and sustainable use of
PGRFA, based, as appropriate, on country studies on PGRFA;
e.
Promote crop diversification in agricultural systems where appropriate, including new
plants with potential value as food crops;
f.
Promote utilization as well as research on poorly known, but potentially useful, plants
and crops, where appropriate;
g.
Strengthen national capabilities for utilization of PGRFA, plant breeding and seed
production capabilities, both by specialized institutions and farming communities.
(b) Data and information
14.58.
Governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional
organizations, should:
a.
Develop strategies for networks of in situ conservation areas and use of tools such as on-
farm ex situ collections, germplasm banks and related technologies;
b.
Establish ex situ base collection networks;
c.
Review periodically and report on the situation on PGRFA, using existing systems and
procedures;
d.
Characterize and evaluate PGRFA material collected, disseminate information to
facilitate the use of PGRFA collections and assess genetic variation in collections.
(c) International and regional cooperation and coordination
14.59.
The appropriate United Nations agencies and regional organizations should:
a.
Strengthen the Global System on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA by,
inter alia, accelerating the development of the Global Information and Early Warning
System to facilitate the exchange of information; developing ways to promote the transfer
of environmentally sound technologies, in particular to developing countries; and taking
further steps to realize farmers' rights;
b.
Develop subregional, regional and global networks of PGRFA in situ in protected areas;
c.
Prepare periodic state of the world reports on PGRFA;
d.
Prepare a rolling global cooperative plan of action on PGRFA;
e.
Promote, for 1994, the Fourth International Technical Conference on the Conservation
and Sustainable Use of PGRFA, which is to adopt the first state of the world report and
the first global plan of action on the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA;
f.
Adjust the Global System for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA in line
with the outcome of the negotiations of a convention on biological diversity.
Means of implementation