UN-SPIDER’s RSO in Algeria provides maps of areas sensitive to desertification

In the framework of the preparations for the 10th session of the Conference of the State Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) which will be held from October 10 to 21, 2011 in the Republic of Korea, the Algerian Space Agency, the UN-SPIDER RSO in Algeria, took part in the Regional Preparatory Meeting conducted from 5 to 8 September 2011 in Algiers.

The Regional Preparatory Meeting was co-organized by the executive Secretariat of the UNCCD and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Algerian Space Agency, in cooperation with the General Directorate of Water and Forest Administration, helped launch the implementation of an action plan to combat desertification which will be led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. For this purpose, it provided maps of areas sensitive to desertification based on satellite data.

Moreover, the Algerian Space Agency took part in an exhibition presenting key elements such as used methodology and different data that served to elaborate the above mentioned maps. At the end of the meeting, it was concluded that awareness of national and regional decision-makers regarding the issue of desertification needs to be raised. Also, a framework for better regional cooperation should be established so as to facilitate sharing of space-based data and related expertise.