30 November 2012: The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) approved draft resolutions on “Implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa” ( A/C.2/67/L.49) and on the “International Day of Forests” (A/C.2/67/L.46).

The first text focuses on implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and calls on Member States to take urgent action to reduce desertification, land degradation and drought. It calls for UNCCD to enhance its implementation by mobilizing adequate, predictable and timely financial resources.

The draft encourages the consideration of desertification, drought, and land degradation issues in the post-2015 development agenda, recognizing their cross-sectoral nature in economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The draft also stresses the importance of scientific research, monitoring and assessment, as well as the need for cooperation with climate and weather forecasting bodies.

A second Scientific Conference of the UNCCD is scheduled to take place from 4-7 February 2013, in Fortaleza, Brazil, and the draft welcomes its theme of “Economic assessment of desertification, sustainable land management and resilience of arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.” The draft also recognizes the efforts of the UNCCD and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to hold a high-level meeting on national drought policy in Geneva in March 2013.

The second resolution approved by the Committee would proclaim 21 March the annual International Day of Forests, considering that there is no globally-recognized date commemorating and raising awareness of forests. The observation of the date would begin in 2013. The text encourages Member States to organize annual events on forests and trees outside forests, including, for example, tree-planting campaigns. The draft requests the Secretariat of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) to act as the facilitator of the International Day in collaboration with the governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), governments and other relevant organizations. Funding for activities related to this Day should be met by voluntary contributions for its specific purpose, the draft notes. [Publication: Draft Resolution A/C.2/67/L.49] [Publication: Draft Resolution A/C.2/67/L.46]