On 17 June 1994, in Paris, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is adopted — the treaty linking land degradation, drought and development in affected countries, especially in Africa.

Negotiated after the Rio Earth Summit (1992), UNCCD requires national action programmes, scientific cooperation and North–South partnerships. It enters into force on 26 December 1996.

The secretariat is based in Bonn. The Conference of the Parties (COP) remains the decision forum; 17 June became the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

The Convention complements the CBD and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as one of the “three Rio conventions”.

For environmental law, 17 June 1994 marks the first global treaty devoted to desertification.

The official text appears on the UNCCD website and in the UNTC.

The Convention to Combat Desertification of 17 June 1994 remains the UN framework for dry and degraded lands.

Image: desertification; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Treaty text: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNTC).