Forests are central to combating desertification, Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations Secretary-General has said.
Speaking on World Day to Combat Desertification on Sunday, the UN Secretary General said that forests and scrubland in dry lands provide the backbone of arid ecosystems. He noted that 42 percent of the earths tropical and sub tropical forests are dry forests and warned against against depleting them through unsustainable land management and agriculture.
He added that the ongoing greening of the Sahel region and other success stories around the world showed that degraded lands can be reclaimed by agro forestry and other sustainable practices.
# # #
