Protecting dryland biodiversity

Protecting the biological diversity of dryland, Mediterranean, arid, semi-arid, grassland, and savannah ecosystems, which may also be known as "dry and sub-humid lands", bearing in mind the close linkages between poverty and loss of biological diversity in these areas.

To promote the conservation of the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of its genetic resources, and to combat the loss of biological diversity in dry and sub-humid lands and its socio-economic consequences.

The activity needed to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands will depend on the state of the dry and sub-humid lands resources and the nature of the threats. Many dry and sub-humid land resources must be managed at the level of watersheds, or at higher spatial levels, implying community or inter-community, rather than individual, management. This is often further complicated by multiple user groups (e.g., agriculturalists, pastoralists and fisherfolk) and the migratory habits of some animal species and users of biological diversity. Institutions need to be developed or strengthened to provide for biological diversity management at the appropriate scale and for conflict resolution. Sustainable use of biological diversity in dry and sub-humid lands may require the development of alternative livelihoods, and the creation of markets and other incentives to enable and promote responsible use.