What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’? 1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships. 2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its secretariat facilitates the allocation of the major portion of financial resources to these regions. 3. It is committed to the bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994 and is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
Statement 1 is correct: The UNCCD aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships. It provides a framework for countries to work together to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Convention has a particular focus on Africa, not South Asia and North Africa. In fact, its full name is the 'United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa'. Furthermore, the Secretariat does not facilitate the allocation of the 'major portion' of financial resources; financial mobilization is primarily handled through the Global Mechanism and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Statement 3 is correct: The UNCCD is unique among the Rio Conventions for its commitment to a bottom-up approach. It emphasizes the participation of local communities, land users, and non-governmental organizations in the design and implementation of programmes to combat land degradation.