Monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation

As such, a multi-level approach to the provision of scientific advice and knowledge is needed in addition to further research on the links between the drivers and impacts of DLD and the indicators used to measure them (see WP3, chapters 2.4 and 2.5). [...] The UNCCD, Parties of the Convention and the broader international community should be informed of the current and future costs of DLD, and the economic and financial benefits to be gained if DLD is effectively prevented. [...] Such information will assist land users and managers, decision- and policy- makers and communities in the design of effective remedial measures and supportive policies, while scientific models of human-ecological systems that provide forecasts and guidance on the management of ecosystems may be improved if the costs of land degradation and desertification can be incorporated. [...] The Need for Monitoring and Assessment The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) on desertification highlighted the lack of sufficient monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation and stated that “without a scientifically robust and consistent baseline of desertification, identifying priorities and monitoring the consequences of actions are seriously constrained” (MA, 2005:19 ) [...] Challenges to the Implementation of Monitoring and Assessment Systems Despite the existence of the UNCCD and an abundance of research efforts on combating desertification and land degradation, progress has been hampered by an inadequate diagnosis of the root problems (problem identification), an inability to link remedies to diagnosis, and a lack of effective M&A of the state of the land and of th