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DESIS (part of UNEP) is an information resource centre offering services encompassing agriculture, environmental degradation, food and natural resources within the context of desertification. Databases include:

(a) Activities on Wind Effect and Techniques to Wind Erosion Control (ACWIND): This database offers approximately 200 items encompassing climate, land use, soils and wind.

(b) Desertification Library (DELI): This database was initiated in 1987 and currently contains over 1,200 items encompassing agriculture, desertification, environment, food and natural resources.

(c) Desertification Mailing List (MAIL): This database currently contain over 3,000 items and is currently being developed as a referral service.

(d) Desertification Thesaurus (KEYS): This database is currently being developed as a controlled vocabulary reference service.

(e) Directory of Organizations Dealing with Desertification Control and Dryland Development (DIOR): This database was initiated in 1985 and developed as a referral service.

(f) Network of Researchers and Institutions Dealing with Wind Erosion (REWIND): This database is currently being developed as a referral service.

(g) Query/Response Database (Q/R): This database is currently in the planning stage and will function as a factual and referral service.

(h) UN Compendium on Dryland Development and Desertification Control Projects (PROCOM): This Compendium was established in 1987 as a factual and full text database.

(i) UNEP Desertification Control Projects (DEPRO): This database was established in 1987 and currently contains some 62 entries; it is continuously updated.

(j) world-wide Documentation on Wind Erosion Control (BIWIND): This database contains over 5,700 items, but is still considered in the developing stage of becoming a bibliographic service.

All databases are stored on Compaq 386 computers using CDS/ISIS software. Information is available to all UN institutions as well as to external users in most cases.